2007 Clemson Football Outlook

July 12, 2007

Clemson has 50 lettermen returning for 2007, but it is a young group of Tigers. In fact, it is one of the more unusual roster configurations of Tiger talent in many years because only nine scholarship student-athletes are seniors. Only one season in the last 30 (1985 with seven) has Clemson entered a season with fewer scholarship seniors on its roster.

Talented youth will be the watchwords for Tommy Bowden’s ninth Clemson team. They will be challenged to meet a level of consistency that has not been seen at Clemson in many years. In the competitive ACC, Clemson, Boston College, and Virginia Tech are the only schools to win at least eight games each of the last two years, the first time Clemson has done it since 1990,91.

Bowden’s Tigers have also won at least four ACC games each of the last eight years, something only Georgia Tech has matched. In 2006, he became the first coach in Clemson history to post seven straight winning seasons.

Clemson is coming off an 8-5 season that included two wins over top-15 teams and a #10 national ranking eight games into the season. The Tigers were in the top-16 nationally in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, and total defense, joining Ohio State as the only team in the nation who could make that claim. The Tigers also finished in the top 15 in the nation in yards per play on offense (school-record 6.5) and yards per play on defense, joining Louisiana State as the only school in the nation to do that.

The Tigers return just four starters on offense, but 24 lettermen are back from a unit that was in the top 15 in the nation in rushing offense, total offense, and scoring offense. Clemson led the ACC in all three categories for the first time in 15 seasons.

Two of those 24 returning lettermen on offense comprise one of the top backfield combinations in the nation in James Davis and C.J. Spiller. “Thunder & Lightning” combined for 2,125 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground last season, the second-best running back combination in the nation in terms of yards and yards per game. It was also a Clemson standard for rushing yards and total touchdowns by two backs in the same year.

There are also explosive players returning in wideout Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham, who combined for 55 catches playing alongside graduated two-time All-ACC wideout Chansi Stuckey.

Clemson must find a quarterback who will get the Tigers in the correct play and manage the offense. Will Proctor was a one-year starter who had a solid 2006 statistically, finishing second in the ACC in passing efficiency. He managed the offense to 32.7 points per game, the third-best scoring average in school history. The balanced attack had over 2,500 rushing yards and 2,500 passing yards, just the second team in school history to do that.

The defense has seven returning starters and 25 returning lettermen, including each of the top three tacklers and eight of the top 11 from a defense that was in the top 16 in the nation in scoring defense, rushing defense, and total defense.

Senior Nick Watkins (LB) had 116 stops last year to be among the top 10 in the ACC, while safety Chris Clemons added 102 as an active sophomore safety. Michael Hamlin, a two-year starter at safety entering his junior year, had 64 tackles last year despite missing three games, and Phillip Merling, a talented defensive end who had 10 tackles for loss, is also back to lead the defense.

According to Bowden, the Tigers have three areas of particular interest to the coaches in August as they prepare for a challenging schedule that begins September 3 at home against Florida State.

“Offensively, we must get some consistency at quarterback, and there are opportunities on the offensive line for new players,” he said. “I have not entered a preseason with such inexperience at quarterback since I have been a head coach. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have talent there. Cullen Harper will be the #1 quarterback when we start in August. He had a solid spring, but I have confidence in Willy Korn, Tribble Reese, and Michael Wade.

“We also must replace four starters on the offensive line, but we have some talented players back. And unlike quarterback, there is experience. We should start four seniors on the offensive line.”

Barry Richardson is a First-Team All-ACC offensive tackle who will be a candidate for many of the same national honors that Gaines Adams won in 2006. “We have players returning who saw significant playing time last year because we had many games in hand in the second half, so I don’t think we are as bad off from an experience standpoint on the offensive line as it might seem.”

On defense, Bowden must concentrate on finding replacements for 2006 starters Duane Coleman and C.J. Gaddis. Coleman was a senior leader who was fourth on the team in tackles last year, while Gaddis turned pro a year early.

“The cornerback position is important in any defensive plan because it is the last line of defense. We had success on defense last year, especially in the first eight games. But we have some returning players who showed their abilities in key roles last year. Chris Chancellor started four games and Crezdon Butler saw significant playing time during his first-year freshman season when he was a co-leader on the team in takeaways.”

The Tigers also must replace Gaines Adams, the leader of the 2006 defense who was a unanimous first-team All-American and #4 overall pick of the NFL draft, tied for the highest selection in school history. “Gaines will be difficult to replace. He really has to be regarded as one of the all-time greats in our program’s history. We will have to find someone who can pressure the quarterback and make the big play like he did so often.”

Offense Clemson returns Richardson, a First-Team All-ACC offensive tackle, and one of the top running back combinations in the nation in Davis and Spiller. Davis was a First-Team All-ACC pick, while Spiller was a first-team freshman All-American by many services, including Sporting News and Rivals.com.

Clemson was in the top 20 in the nation in rushing offense, scoring offense, and total offense, a reason Rob Spence was named Sporting News’ top offensive coordinator in the ACC entering 2007.

Davis led the team in rushing with 1,187 yards and a 5.8-yard average. His 17 touchdowns tied for the ACC lead and tied the Tiger single-season record for rushing scores. He had a career-high 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win over #13 Georgia Tech. He scored two touchdowns in the win at #9 Florida State, including the game-winner with eight seconds left. He had a strong spring, as he improved his speed after working with Tiger Track Sprint Coach Charles Foster.

Spiller gained 938 rushing yards and a team-best 1,415 all-purpose yards in 2006. He was third in the nation in rushing among freshmen, but his 7.3-yards-per-carry figure was fourth-best in the nation among all backs regardless of class and the best by an ACC player since Warrick Dunn had a 7.5 average for Florida State in 1995. Spiller contributed 12 total touchdowns, including 10 rushing, both records for a Tiger freshman. The Florida native actually led the team in 100-yard rushing games (5), including a 154-yard game against N.C. State and a 155-yard game against South Carolina. Spiller joined the Clemson track team in the spring and earned All-America honors as a member of the 4x100m relay team.

Ray Ray McElrathbey and Paul Macko are two other returning lettermen in the running-back mix. McElrathbey had a strong spring in his first stint at running back at the college level. He had 13 carries for 58 yards in the spring game, while Macko is an original walk-on who lettered last year and has earned a scholarship for 2007.

Clemson was fifth in the nation in rushing in 2006 with 218 yards per game. Obviously, the talent of Davis and Spiller had a lot to do with it, but there was also outstanding blocking that created the holes. The Tigers must replace Third-Team AP All-America offensive guard Nathan Bennett and Second-Team All-ACC center Dustin Fry. Roman Fry, who was on his way to an All-America season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL against Georgia Tech, and steady starting offensive tackle Marion Dukes, also must be replaced. Clemson returns just one starter on the offensive line, but two others are back who have starting experience over their careers.

Richardson is the Tigers’ top returning offensive lineman and is one of the top tackles in the nation. An Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate, Richardson graduated from high school a year early, so the fourth-year starter will still be 21 when 2007 is finished, a fact that will make him particularly attractive to NFL teams in the spring of 2008.

Richardson has started 32 consecutive games at left tackle. He was a big reason Clemson was fifth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed. He was the first Tiger underclassman offensive lineman to earn All-ACC honors since Jim Bundren did it 10 years ago. In 2006, he had 75 knockdown blocks, second-best on the team, and has 141 entering his final year. He allowed just two sacks in 2006.

In the summer of 2007, Richardson was named a first-team preseason All-American by Playboy, Athlon, and Lindy’s. Lindy’s and Sporting News both listed him among the top-five offensive tackles in the nation, and he is on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list and All-America checklist by Football Writers Association.

Roman Fry, who started the first eight games. McDuffie took over for Fry when he suffered a season-ending torn ACL on the third play of the Georgia Tech game. He came on to block very well in that outstanding performance and for the remainder of the year. He ended the year with 50 knockdown blocks, including 37 over the last five games, second to Bennett over that time period.

Brandon Pilgrim is a top candidate to join McDuffie as a starting offensive guard. A fifth-year senior who has experience at guard and tackle, Pilgrim played 204 snaps in 2006, second among non-starters. He has starting experience during his career and had at least a 75-percent film grade over his last six games in 2006. He is the only active Tiger to have played in three bowl games.

Christian Capote will join Richardson as a starting offensive tackle. Capote has been a reliable backup the last three years. He averaged 13 plays per game in 2006 as a reserve behind Marion Dukes and had at least one knockdown block in 12 of the 13 games. He had four knockdown blocks in 16 snaps in the win over #13 Georgia Tech.

The center spot will be manned by sophomore Dustin Fry led the team in snaps each of the last two seasons. Humphries played 84 snaps last season and had 16.5 knockdowns. His knockdown block every 5.1 plays was the best ratio on the team. Red-shirt freshman Ben Ramsey, an original walk-on, was also impressive in the spring and is listed as second team entering 2007.

There are many other young offensive linemen who will be in the mix. Thomas Austin is a talented sophomore who is capable of playing guard and center. Cory Lambert was an All-American out of Greenville High who is ready to challenge for a starting tackle assignment. Jamarcus Grant is a 6’5″, 320-pound guard who was slowed by a broken foot last year, but he showed flashes of his ability by the end of the year. Chris Hairston and Jamal Medlin are red-shirt freshmen that are anxious to see their first action. Landon Walker is another freshman tackle that entered the program in January.

The top returning wideout is 6’5″ junior Aaron Kelly, who had 30 catches in 2006 and 77 in his career. He needs just 70 yards to reach 1,000 for his career, a rare feat for a junior. He had three touchdown catches and 355 yards on 30 receptions last year. Grisham had 25 receptions for 264 yards and three scores in 2006. He will be looked upon to take up the slack left by Stuckey, who left Clemson seventh in school history in career receptions. Grisham had his best game as a Tiger in the Music City Bowl with five catches for 49 yards and a score.

Another returning wideout who has breakaway speed is Ford. The ACC Champion and All-American in the 60m (third in the nation) during the 2007 indoor track season, the sophomore will be looked upon to stretch opposing defenses like no other Tiger in the past. He had 15 receptions for 187 yards in 2006, including a 76-yard touchdown reception against South Carolina. Ford was a standout in the spring with seven catches for 105 yards in the spring game.

Rendrick Taylor is a strong 6’2″ wideout who will be looking to have his first healthy season as a Tiger. He has suffered arm injuries each of his first two years that have allowed him to play only 15 of 25 possible games. He had 12 receptions for 152 yards in 2006 when healthy.

Clemson has some outstanding freshman wideouts, including Xavier Dye, who entered the program in January. La’Donte Harris has also played in many big games and will be factor. Red-shirt freshman Jeff Ogren and returning letterman Nelson Faerber are also in the mix.

The tight end position is very important in Spence’s intricate offense. Thomas Hunter, a 2006 senior, had 16 receptions for 305 yards, the most by a Tiger tight end since Bennie Cunningham’s senior year (1975). Durrell Barry are back to lead the position. Robinson did not have a reception in 2006, but he is a returning starter thanks to his outstanding blocking.

Palmer caught five passes as a first-year freshman and Barry caught a 32-yard touchdown pass in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky. Freshman Brian Linthicum entered Clemson in January and also will get plenty of chances at tight end. He showed his ability on a 36-yard touchdown reception from Willy Korn in the 2007 spring game.

For the first time since Bowden became head coach in 1999, the Tigers enter the fall with a question mark at quarterback. Bowden has always had an experienced signal-caller returning dating to his first year when Brandon Streeter was the returning starter and Woodrow Dantzler was the backup. But this season, his four quarterbacks on the depth chart have played just a combined 96 snaps and thrown just 25 career passes.

Harper is at the top of the depth chart entering the fall. The 6’4″ quarterback, whose father played on Georgia’s 1980 National Championship team, completed 14-20 passes for 155 yards and two scores in 2006. Those are impressive numbers, as shown by his 168.1 pass efficiency rating. But, all of his action came in reserve duty in routs.

Harper made progress with consistent outings in the spring that have moved him to the top of the depth chart entering fall practice. He was 15-24 for 147 yards and three scores in the spring game, and he was 42-66 for 457 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in the three spring scrimmages.

Korn was fourth on the depth chart entering spring practice, but he rose to #2 entering August workouts. A Parade All-American at nearby James F. Byrnes High School, Korn entered Clemson in January and went through spring practice. He was 13-25 for 135 yards and a touchdown in the spring game, and he was 29-55 for 293 yards in the three scrimmages. He is the most highly-decorated Tiger quarterback signee since Steve Fuller, who was also a native of the Spartanburg, SC area.

Reese and Wade are also in the quarterback picture. Reese was third team last year and played in two games, while Wade, a 4.0 GPA student, red-shirted in 2006 as a first-year freshman. Reese had a good spring, completing 12-18 passes for 122 yards, while Wade was limited by a wrist injury.

Defense Clemson returns 25 lettermen, including seven starters, from a 2006 defense that was in the top 20 in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, tackles for loss, pass efficiency defense, and rushing defense. It marked the first time since 1991 that Clemson was in the top 20 in all four major defensive stat categories in the same year, a testimony to the efforts of Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning.

While eight of the top 11 tacklers return, one big piece of the defensive puzzle is missing, as Adams has moved on to the NFL. He was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2006, just the second Tiger in history to be a unanimous selection. He was named ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award.

Bowden must replace starting cornerbacks Duane Coleman (81 tackles) and C.J. Gaddis (33 tackles), and starting outside linebacker Maurice Nelson (71 tackles) as well.

“We should be solid on defense,” said Bowden. “We have finished in the top 25 in the nation in the four major defensive categories each of the last two seasons, something we haven’t done here in consecutive years since 1989,90. That is a credit to Vic Koenning and the job he has done.”

The strength of the team could be at linebacker, where three starters return. How is that possible with the loss of Nelson, a 2006 starter? Tramaine Billie returns at linebacker after starting in 2004 and 2005. He suffered a season-ending broken ankle in August last year. Had Clemson had Billie and Anthony Waters, a preseason All-American who suffered a torn ACL in the 2006 opener, its defensive rankings and win total could have been much higher.

Billie started six games in 2004 and had 62 stops, then he had 93 tackles in 2005 when he started all 12 games. He was in the top five on the team in tackles in both years. When he is in the lineup, Clemson has done well, as evidenced by the Tigers 13-5 record in games he has started over his two years in the lineup.

Watkins is the top returning tackler (116 tackles in 13 games). He had seven tackles for loss and a team-tying-high three interceptions. The senior from New Orleans, LA had five double-digit tackle games last year, including three in a row to end the regular season. Watkins enters his final year with 36 games and 25 starts under his belt, and he has totaled a team-high 268 tackles, including 19 for loss.

A third returning starter at linebacker is junior Antonio Clay, who has 122 career tackles. Clay had 13 tackles in the win over #13 Georgia Tech and was ACC Defensive Lineman-of-the-Week. Three of those tackles were for loss, and he ended the year with 95 stops, including 9.5 tackles for loss. He sat out the spring semester for personal reasons, but he returned to Clemson for summer school.

There are five returning lettermen that will also compete for playing time at any of the three linebacker spots. Cortney Vincent is listed as the starting middle linebacker after leading the Orange defense in the spring game with a game-high 10 tackles. Vincent has played 24 games and 260 snaps, while he had 24 tackles last year. He started in the win over N.C. State in 2006 as well.

Junior Josh Miller has played 194 snaps in 25 games on two teams that have been in the top 16 in the nation in scoring defense. He had 12 tackles in 2006 and should see more playing time in 2007.

Kavell Conner is a returning letterman at weakside linebacker. As Watkins’ backup, he had 31 stops in 2006, high among reserve linebackers. Jeremy Campbell and Kevin Alexander are two sophomores who look to show great improvement in their respective second seasons in the program. Alexander had 16 tackles in 13 games, while Campbell had 15 stops in 106 snaps in 10 games.

The defensive line returns three starters and nine lettermen. It might be the deepest area of the team. Leading the way are returning starters Jock McKissic, Merling, and Dorell Scott. Rashaad Jackson is an experienced veteran who has just two career starts, but he has played in 25 games and 621 snaps over the last two years. He is actually first on the depth chart heading into fall practice.

Merling is a junior who is a rising star of the defense. Playing in Adams’ shadow as Clemson’s “other defensive end,” Merling finished the year with 46 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and three sacks to go with 20 quarterback pressures. He was ninth on the team in tackles in 2006, but he finished the season strong with at least five tackles in each of the last five games. Sophomore Jamie Cumbie is listed as the top reserve at defensive end behind Merling. Cumbie is a 6’7″ player with terrific potential. He had eight tackles in 104 plays last season.

Ricky Sapp and Kwam Williams are listed as co-starters at bandit end entering August practice. Sapp was Adams’ backup on the depth chart last year as a first-year freshman, and he showed he was a good learner, as he registered four sacks to tie William Perry’s (1981) first-year freshman Clemson record. He finished the year with six tackles for loss and 20 total tackles in less than 200 plays. Williams is a fifth-year senior who has played well in limited action with 14 tackles in 20 career games.

Scott and McKissic are returning starters at defensive tackle. Scott was second to Adams on the team in tackles among defensive linemen with 54 stops in 2006, including a career-high nine tackles in the Music City Bowl. He was one of the most improved defensive linemen in the ACC after moving his tackle total from 18 in 2005 to 54 in 2006. He is listed as the seventh-best defensive tackle in the nation by Sporting News in its 2007 preseason publication.

McKissic started 12 games in 2006 and had 18 tackles as one of Clemson’s primary inside run-stoppers. He showed his all-around talent when he returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina in November, the longest interception return by a defensive lineman in Tiger history.

Jackson has had a productive first two years, totaling 65 tackles in 25 games. He was outstanding all spring and was the subject of many compliments by Bowden at the end of spring workouts. He started the Music City Bowl and has continued to hold on to that first-team position entering August practice. Antwon Murchison and Elsmore Gabriel are two more experienced, but still young defensive tackles that will compete for playing time in 2007.

Clemson returns its starting safeties, Hamlin and Clemons. Hamlin is one of the most-respected safeties in the ACC because of his abilities on pass coverage and run-support. He had 64 tackles in 2006 to finish sixth on the team even though he missed three games due to a broken foot. He suffered an injury to the other foot prior to spring practice, but he will be 100 percent by August camp.

Clemons is also a solid run-stopper at free safety, where he had 102 tackles last year, second-best on the team. He had three consecutive double-digit tackle games to end the regular season, including a career-high 17 in the win over N.C. State. While he had just one interception, he led the team in passes defended (9). He is a preseason second-team All-ACC selection by Sporting News.

Sadat Chambers, Darius Gaither, and DeAndre McDaniel are also significantly involved in the safety situation. Chambers is a sophomore who had 10 tackles in 117 snaps last year, while Gaither and McDaniel are yet to play in a game. Gaither red-shirted last season and McDaniel is a freshman that entered Clemson in January after playing at a prep school in 2006. McDaniel had a terrific spring, culminating with an interception, pass breakup, and four tackles in the spring game. He is actually listed as a co-starter with Hamlin entering August practice.

While the most interesting area of the offense during the offseason will be quarterback, the focal point of the defense will be cornerback. Chancellor, Butler, and red-shirt freshman Byron Maxwell are the leaders entering August practice.

Chancellor and Butler have experience, as Chancellor started four games with 288 snaps in 2006, while Butler was a first-team freshman All-ACC pick when he totaled 38 tackles and 248 snaps. Butler tied for the team lead in interceptions (3), including two in the win over Louisiana Tech and one in the win over #13 Georgia Tech.

Maxwell is listed as a co-starter at cornerback with Butler entering the fall. Like McDaniel, Maxwell had a strong spring, including an interception and caused fumble in the spring game. He red-shirted last year, but he did not even practice until the end of the year, as he recovered from a torn ACL that he suffered during his senior season of high school.

Also entering the cornerback competition is Haydrian Lewis, who started the 2006 season-opener and had three tackles in 49 plays.

Special Teams Clemson will have two new kickers in 2007. Cole Chason was Clemson’s starting punter the last four years and had more punts than any other Tiger in history. He averaged 41.3 yards per punt last year, including a 38.6-yard net average, the best by a Tiger in 11 years. He was a main reason Clemson improved in net punting from 104th in 2005 to 32nd in 2006. Jad Dean finished his career fifth in school history in field goals, and he was third in kick scoring. He made 15-22 field goals last year as well.

Mark Buchholz is one of the more interesting stories on campus. Already a three-year starter on a top-20 soccer team, he will join the football team as its starting placekicker in August. That means he will have a busy fall playing both sports, a first for a Tiger athlete since Donald Igwebuike played both in 1982. He was an all-state placekicker at Chattahoochee High in Georgia. Buchholz won the job with a consistent performance in the spring, including a 3-3 field-goal effort in the spring game.

Cole Chason in 2006 and had just one punt. He did not letter, but he had a solid spring, including a 48-yard average in the spring game. He is listed first team on the depth chart entering August.

Richard Jackson is a red-shirt freshman ready to make a contribution at punter and placekicker. He could also serve as the kickoff man. He sat out last year after earning Parade All-America honors in 2005 at Riverside High. Jackson received national acclaim by making a state-record 64-yard field goal in high school. He is the first Parade All-America kicker to come to Clemson since Chris Gardocki.