Talent reaches new depth
CLEMSON — There are numerous ways to measure Clemson's talent upgrade in recent years.
Take a look at the Tigers' increase of All-ACC selections, or their increase of players in whom the NFL is taking interest.
Or just look at Jock McKissic. He's a fifth-year senior, he's played in 37 games and started 13. And yet, he finds himself toiling at third-team defensive tackle behind junior Jamie Cumbie and sophomore Jarvis Jenkins.
"He would have been 'The Guy' a few years ago," said defensive line coach Chris Rumph.
McKissic's diminished role highlights the recent trend of veterans getting pushed hard — and, quite often, being overtaken — by younger guys who are more talented and more capable of making an immediate impact.
"You see recruiting passing some other guys back," defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said. "Some seniors who can't quite (keep up), they're falling back. And I think that's just a good sign for the program."
Koenning is entering his fourth year in the program, and by his recollection Clemson had plenty of front-line talent when he arrived. He thinks back to 2005 and remembers cornerback Tye Hill (first-round draft pick), defensive end Gaines Adams (No. 4 draft pick), Anthony Waters (third-round pick), and Charles Bennett (seventh round).
And it wasn't as though the Tigers were bereft of talent before that. Guys like Leroy Hill, Justin Miller, Jamaal Fudge and Airese Currie exhausted their eligibility in 2004.
"Those were pretty good players," Koenning said.
According to the so-called experts, 10th-year coach Tommy Bowden has improved his recruiting in the past four classes. The 2008 class was ranked No. 11 by Scout.com and No. 12 by Rivals.com, and Bowden says as many as 11 of the players who comprised that class could avoid redshirts this season.
That would match the record under Bowden, set last year. The previous high was nine in 2001.
"Definitely our recruiting has been elevated and we're bringing in some pretty talented players," said Bowden, whose No. 9 Tigers will play No. 24 Alabama on Aug. 30 in Atlanta. "Hopefully we can always bring in seven or eight that have the ability to play right off the bat. … I hope we always have that problem."
Koenning said the biggest difference from when he arrived to now is improved depth. Guys who would have started a few years ago — guys like McKissic — are now scrapping hard for playing time.
Three years ago, Koenning had to settle for Cortney Vincent as the backup to "bandit" end Gaines Adams. Vincent was all of 235 pounds and eventually became a starting linebacker, but Koenning had no choice in 2005.
"That was all we had," he said. "We've got much more depth now."
The interior defensive line is the best example of that. Tackle Rashaad Jackson, a fifth-year senior, entered preseason camp as the No. 1 man on the depth chart. He was lost for at least half of the season with a torn quad tendon suffered last week.
In the past, such a loss might've been devastating. Now, not so much. Cumbie and Jenkins had already been pushing Jackson for the starting spot, and now the two are battling for the No. 1 role.
Behind those two, McKissic and fourth-year junior Antwon Murchison are just trying to get on the field.
The upgrades are also evident in the secondary, where Koenning is looking for capable backups to senior safeties Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons. Two veterans, fourth-year junior Sadat Chambers and senior Haydrian Lewis, are trying to hold off freshmen Spencer Adams and Rashard Hall.
At middle linebacker, senior Josh Miller finds himself behind a redshirt freshman (Brandon Maye) and a freshman (Stanley Hunter). Junior Jeremy Campbell was moved to weak-side linebacker after coaches settled on sophomores Scotty Cooper and DeAndre McDaniel on the strong side.
At one of the cornerback spots, Koenning says sophomore Marcus Gilchrist is posing a serious challenge to fourth-year junior Chris Chancellor. And freshman Da'Quan Bowers is contending with junior Kevin Alexander for the starting role at end.
The offensive line, though, has been resistant to the trend. Some observers had penciled in redshirt freshmen David Smith and Mason Cloy at the two guard spots, but fourth-year juniors Jamarcus Grant and Barry Humphries have solidified the starting roles at those positions heading into next week's opener.
Injury update
Tailback Jamie Harper (sprained ankle) and offensive lineman Cloy (sprained knee) are listed as questionable for Alabama.
Harper, a 230-pound freshman who suffered the injury during a scrimmage last Saturday, wore a boot on his ankle before Thursday's practice and was only able to participate in conditioning runs at the end of the session. Cloy is the Tigers' No. 3 guard and is also capable of playing center.
--Also, starting defensive end Kevin Alexander continued to miss practice because of an infection on the back of his leg. Bowden said Bowers is gaining traction at the starting spot in part because of Alexander's absence. Alexander is listed as probable for the opener.
Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/
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Comments
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
Tommy West inherited a flagging recruiting situation from the previous coach and its taken the 15 years since then to right the ship and return to the talent laden teams of the prior era. And judging by the recruiting for next years class, things aren't slowing any.
August 22, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
Wow. The Tigers and Dawgs are leaving sc in the dust. Both have 4 and 5 star players and recruits. sc has 2 star. High profile recruits notice this and do not want to sign with sc and lose. They also know wonder stevie will retire soon.
August 22, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
AWWWW bigriver with one of his insightful comments. He obviously knows nothing about the ranking of recruits. Typical Clemson bomb thrower.
How can you compare Clemson and Georgia? Do you really think Clemson is equal to Georgia? I wonder if bigriver can walk and chew gum at the same time?
August 22, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
We may not be equal but we are getting close.
August 22, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TAR1 (anonymous) says...
The dawgs & tigers are leaving usc in the dust..... HHmmm. Last time the dawgs rolled into the valley they routed yal 30-0. Last time usc played the dawgs they won. And the last three years the CU/USC game has come down to the final play. I would think that would make all three pretty close. But if you determine your teams success on recruiting, have fun. I guess there's no sense in you watching any games this year.
August 22, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
30-0 was quite a few years ago , and none of the players on that team are at Clemson anymore.
August 22, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TAR1 (anonymous) says...
After posting I read where Kentucky has 17 recruits. 13 are 4 star or better. So along the lines of br1's thinking UK should be the preseason favorite to win the SEC or NC next year.
August 22, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
Nope, it just means y'all will soon be behind U.K. in the S.E.C. East. Just barely above Vanderbilt.
August 22, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TAR1 (anonymous) says...
Correction: 3 stars or higher.
August 22, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopeeky (anonymous) says...
fjms...Right above Vanderbilt, eh? If your not at the top does it really matter? Maybe a Boston College, Va Tech or Wake Forest fan should be posting here. Clemson has not won anything in years yet they still run there trap like their the best. Before you get started I know USC has not won a Championship since 1969, so no need to waste your time giving me a history lesson! I pray you guys win something this year, with that team and that schedule it shouldn't be that difficult. Somehow I feel Tammy Bowdown will screw it up as usual!
August 22, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TsQc (anonymous) says...
Stars don't mean anything, does anyone remember a player called Sidney Rice????? 2 star player, hardly recruited. I'm glad Clemson got all the star recruits, that way there is NO excuse at all when they fall flat on their faces once again this year.
August 22, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackMagic84 (anonymous) says...
The Clemson Tigers have a good chance of going 10-2 and winning the ACC.
The USC Gamecocks, with Tammy Beecher at the helm, have a good chance of going 6-6 or maybe 7-5 with another trip to Shrevport for a low level bowl.
August 22, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Big River -- Congrats on losing that 5 star QB Michael Newton to the football jugernaut Kentucky. I guess he looked at the last meeting between the two schools and picked the team that kicked the other one's ass. We'll see who has more talent in November--that's the only time it matters. Bragging about recruits without a championship is like kissing your sister or hitting your 100 lb girlfriend, you just don't do it unless your a clemson thugger. The T Bowden firing rumor mill will be going stronger than ever by the year's end so enjoy your so called early committments and the hot air. As Jim Grobe said three years ago: "No school has wasted more talent than Clemson University under T Bowden". Deja Vu!
August 22, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jrg303 (anonymous) says...
South Carolina fans never cease to amaze me! We could beat you 999 times out of 1000, and you would still find a way to talk trash. Let's be honest. Year after year Clemson and USC square off and year after year you come away crying. "He pushed off!" "If it weren't for that last second field goal we would have won!" Don't say it USC fans. I know what you're thinking. Just wait till next year, right?
August 22, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
Whats funny to me is the chickens have had higher rated classes than us the the last 4 years .
http://clemson.scout.com/a.z?s=46&p=9...
August 22, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
http://clemson.scout.com/a.z?s=46&p=9...
Here are the rankings .
August 22, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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