CLEMSON — There are no Jimmy Maners voodoo dolls, pins conveniently inserted into feet and knees, hiding in Dawson Zimmerman’s apartment.

When Zimmerman boots a punt during a practice or scrimmage, Maners and Richard Jackson hope for the best, not a shank, squirt or block.

With less than two weeks remaining until No. 9 Clemson’s season opener against No. 24 Alabama, the Tigers’ three-way dance for starting punting duties remain as tight as ever.

So do its combatants.

To a man, Jackson, Maners and Zimmerman maintain a front of mutual respect — and do so quite well. It bodes well for punting chemistry and the eventual winner.

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Monday night that the three punters are fairly equal.

Whoever takes the first fourth-down trot onto the Georgia Dome floor clearly will have earned it.

“It’s not awkward,” said Zimmerman, a true freshman. “We’ve become friends just because we’re out there punting every day together. He’s been really supportive of me. It’s not like when he’s punting I’m next to him (thinking), ‘I hope he shanks this one.’

“I think right now, I’m interested in what’s best for our team. If Jimmy’s punting great, that’s awesome.

“I think he’s been really supportive of me so far. No bad blood or anything between us.”

Maners feels the same way, a somewhat surprising sentiment coming from a senior battling for his job with two underclassmen. Last fall, he enjoyed one of the better seasons in Clemson history, averaging 42.8 yards per kick, fifth-best in Tiger history and 20th nationally.

But with less than two weeks left before the opener, he’s assured of nothing. Doesn’t seem to bug him, though. He’s being the supportive veteran, same way Cole Chason treated him as an upstart youngster.

“I wouldn’t like myself if I was trying to treat (Zimmerman) like a red-headed stepchild,” Maners said. “I’m not like that. I’m not that kind of person. He’s on the team, he’s my teammate, it’s not like we’re enemies. I wouldn’t be being a leader if I didn’t lead him through what needs to happen and what needs to go on.”

Just the opposite, in fact.

“I’d be a bad person if I was rooting against him,” Maners said. “I want him to do his best and he wants me to do my best.”

Zimmerman brings impressive credentials to the fight. He was ranked as the No. 2 punter nationally by Scout.com and the No. 6 kicker in America by ESPN.com. He averaged 41 yards per boot as a junior, and his school-record 74-yard punt broke a mark held by NFL Pro Bowl kicker Jason Elam.

He has worked on his drop and hang-time (coaches want one second of hang for every 10 yards the ball travels) in hopes of immediate playing time.

But if Maners is better, well, so be it.

“I wouldn’t be out here competing if I didn’t want to start,” Zimmerman said. “At the same time redshirting would be fine. Jimmy’s great at punting, I know he’d do well for the team. And it would give me an extra year to prepare and come back next year and make an impact.”

The punting derby’s wildcard is sophomore Richard Jackson, a former Parade All-America who has yet to make a real impact as a kicker or punter. Senior Mark Buchholz has the kicking duties locked down, so punting is Jackson’s best option.

He is working his way out of the coaches’ doghouse following an inconsistent freshman season and spring practice. Jackson spent both summer sessions back home in Greer, an unpopular move in today’s culture of “voluntary” summer workouts and classes.

“That didn’t go over extremely well, but it was something I felt like I needed to do coming out of spring,” he said. “It was a long year, and I needed to get back home and regroup a little bit.”

Jackson said the break was more mental than physical — although in punting, both phases loop together.

“Last year, I put pressure on myself, maybe too much,” he said. “I wanted to succeed so bad I went out there and tightened up. (This summer) I went back and realized what got me to this place. I went back to attacking the ball and letting it fly.”

He has improved despite creeping back onto the staff’s bad side by missing a special teams meeting early one Saturday morning, taking some guff, although “I gave a little back, too,” he said.

Competition has strengthened all three. Maners said recently that each punter has been the best and the worst of the trio at least one day apiece.

The best part? No matter who wins, there will be someone behind the starter, working hard if he falters.

“Regardless of who wins the job, we’re working to all improve,” Zimmerman said.

“Whoever starts against Alabama and all of us during the season, we can have a good season.”