Tigers Conclude Spring Practice

April 16, 2005

Clemson, SC – Will Proctor and Chansi Stuckey both set or tied Clemson Spring Game records, and Kelvin Grant added the second best reception yardage total in Clemson Spring Game history to highlight the offense’s performance at Orange & White Game on Saturday.

Tavaghn Monts and Michael Hamlin had 11 tackles apiece and defensive ends Gaines Adams and Charles Bennett both had sacks to highlight the defense, which had five sacks and three turnovers combined on the afternoon.

The Tigers scrimmaged for two and a half hours in Clemson Memorial Stadium before an estimated crowd of 17,500 orange clad fans. The offense wore orange and the defense wore white. There were no defended kickoffs of punting situations. The scrimmage concluded Clemson’s spring practice for 2005.

While the Clemson offense scored 40 points and had an even 500 yards passing, the number-one defense did not allow the number-one offense to score a touchdown. Grant and running back Reggie Merriweather each scored a pair of touchdowns for the number-two defense.

Proctor completed 18 of 23 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Proctor guided the number-two offense throughout the scrimmage against the number-two defense, while Whitehurst led the number-one offense against the number-one defense.

Proctor’s passing yardage total was the most in Clemson spring game history, breaking the record of 240 passing yards by Willie Simmons in the 2001 Spring Game. At one point Proctor completed 13 consecutive passes. His completion percentage of 78.3 percent was also a Spring Game record for a minimum of 20 attempts. Proctor threw three touchdown passes, scoring strikes of four and 15 yards to Grant, and 30 yards to La’ Donte Harris.

Whitehurst completed 21 of 30 passes for 177 yards for his day’s work. Including reserves Tribble Reese, Cullen Harper and Rush Lowther, Clemson quarterbacks completed 45-61 passes for 500 yards and three touchdowns, a 74 percent completion percentage.

“I was pleased with the progress the team made over the Spring,” said head coach Tommy Bowden. “Coming into the spring I wanted our team to become familiar with the changes in terminology on offense and defense, put the top players on both sides of the ball on the field, and develop leadership. We won’t know for sure until the fall, but I think we made progress in all three of those areas.

“The biggest thing about today was that we didn’t get anyone injured. You always worry about that in a spring game.”

Chansi Stuckey tied a Clemson Spring Game record with 11 receptions for 124 yards. All 11 receptions came on passes from Whitehurst. Grant, playing with the second team, caught eight passes for 146 yards and two scores. He was just four yards short of the Clemson Spring Game reception yardage record of 150 yards by Jack Anderson in 1970. La’Donte Harris also had a strong day receiving with five catches for 60 yards, including the 30-yard catch from Proctor.

Merriweather was the top rusher with 75 yards in 18 carries, while Kyle Browning, who ran with the first team most of the day, had 16 carries for 57 yards. Walk-on Paul Macko had eight rushes for 27 yards and had a 21-yard reception.

The defense forced three turnovers, interceptions by Gaines Adams, Charles Bennett, Jaquez McKissic and Roosevelt Nelson. Donnell Clark had two tackles for loss.

Clemson Spring Game Statistics

Rushing (Att-Yds-TD) Merriweather 18-75-2; Browning 16-57-0; Paul Mac Macko 8-27; Will Proctor 6-6; Charlie Whitehurst 3- (-9)

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds-TD-Int)

Will Proctor 18-23-275-3-1; Tribble Reese 3-3-20-0-1; Cullen Harper 1-2-9-0-0; Rush Lowther 2-3-18-0-1

Receiving (Rec-Yds)

Chansi Stuckey 11-124; Kelvin Grant 8-146-2; La’ Donte Harris 5-60-1; Reggie Merriweather 4-7; Kyle Browning 1-1; Chris Wade 1-0

Interceptions

Tye Hill 1-22; Brandon Croley 1-5; Brandon Nolen 1-0

Tackle Leaders

Tavaghn Monts 11, Michael Hamlin 11, Brandon Croley 4, Sergio Gilliam 4, Anthony Waters 4,

Tackles for Loss

Gaines Adams 1-6, Charles Bennett 1-6l Jock McKissic 1-7, Roosevelt Nelson 1-2, David Schlink 1-2, Anthony Waters 1-1.