Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- DT

Brandon Thompson

NG:  Brandon Thompson, Sr.

  At 6'2" 308 lbs, Thompson is the biggest and most experienced of Clemson's defensive lineman.  This will be Thompson's first year without First Team All-ACC DT Jarvis Jenkins.  Thompson will have to deal with numerous double teams this year.  He has been consistent, but unable to get to the quarterback.  Thompson has the potential to be a great defensive tackle and is ranked as the top senior defensive tackle in the 2012 NFL Draft by CBSSports.com.

Rennie Moore

DT:  Rennie Moore, Sr.

  At 6'4" 276 lbs, Moore is bursting with energy.  Taking over for Jenkins, Moore hopes to add another 5-10 lbs before the start of next year in the hopes of being able to better handle the run-stuffing aspect of the job.  The key will be his retaining the ability to get to the quarterback.  Moore is solid, and has plenty of experience.  Hopefully we will see #94 in the opposing teams backfield a lot this year!

Second Team

Tyler Shatley

NG:  Tyler Shatley, Soph.

  "Power Hour" Strongman Champion for spring practice of 2010.  Shatley came to Clemson as a 6'3" 250 lb fullback.  Since then, he has bulked up to 295 lbs and is the backup to Brandon Thompson at NG.   Shatley has become a solid player, and is critical for the success of this very young defensive line.

Tavaris Barnes

DT:  Tavaris Barnes, Rfr.

  Barnes is a young player that is blessed with a ton of talent.  The emergence of Corey Crawford, coupled with Barnes' ability to play inside, allowed Barnes to move over behind Rennie Moore.  Barnes firmly took control of this second team spot during the spring over highly touted Rfr. Josh Watson.  Barnes(6'3" 273 lbs) is a star of the future and I look forward to watching him grow up before our eyes this season.

Backups and Incoming Freshmen.

DeShawn Williams

NG:  DeShawn Williams, Fr.
         Grady Jarrett, Fr.
         Jerome Maybank, Fr.

  Williams has the best chance of all three players to get playing time this season.  Jarrett is another possible player to avoid a redshirt.  Maybank is reported to have a lot of work to do and will definitely be a redshirt.

Josh Watson

DT:  Josh Watson, Rfr.
        Tra Thomas, Rfr.
        Roderick Byers, Fr.

  Watson was highly ranked coming in, but has not seemed to grasp the concepts of Coach Steele's defense.  Watson has a lot of work to do this summer.  Thomas is a little undersized at 5'11" 270 lbs and has also had trouble with work ethic.  Byers will have a chance to play this season, but is a projected redshirt.

Tra Thomas

  This defensive tackle unit is very good in the top tier, but the second team is very young.  Thompson and Moore have the potential to pose major headaches for opposing coordinators.  Barnes and Shatley are solid and should be good in backup duty.  The key will be injuries.  This line cannot afford to lose anyone this year.  I expect Dan Brooks to have most of these young players coached up and ready to play later in the year, but it will be the first few games that will be major tests.

Grady Jarrett

Roderick Byers

The Line Remains Unbroken!

Martin Aiken & Dabo Swinney

 
  Martin Aiken announced Sunday afternoon that he will follow a long line of Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive players to Clemson University.  Aiken (6'3" 245)  is a four star defensive end and a Rivals 250 member.  He is the fifth four star prospect to commit to the Tigers for the 2012 recruiting class.  Aiken chose the Tigers over more than two dozen offers, with his final choice being Clemson over the University of South Carolina, and Georgia Tech.

New Recruiting Tool

  On December 3, 2011, The Weekend of Champions will be played in Death Valley.  The South Carolina High School League and Clemson University have reached an agreement to hold the 3A & 4A State Championship games at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, after Clemson offered the use of their facilities at no cost.  The University of South Carolina has hosted the games at Williams-Brice Stadium  the past two years, but was rumored to have charged up to $40,000 for the use of facilities this year.
  This could provide a boost for recruiting as it is another chance for quality athletes to enjoy one of the biggest moments of their young lives in Clemson Memorial Stadium.  I don't think anyone can deny that all it can take is getting a player on campus to get their attention. (Tony Steward, Sammy Watkins, Travis Blanks, etc)  The 2010 teams featured high school powerhouses such as Byrnes, Dorman, Myrtle Beach,  and South Pointe.  These teams are stocked with D-1 talent year after year.
  It should be great to get these teams and their players on campus an additional time this year.  These have traditionally been great games and now we as Clemson fans can actually enjoy the games without having to travel to Gamecock country to see some great football games.

Weekend Of Champions Moving to Clemson

The Double Edged Sword of Recruiting

The top 10 classes of recruiting generally feature the same teams year in and year out; Bama, Texas, LSU, and the like. Many college football fans belittle the effect of star rankings and point to such examples of Tyler Grisham and Willy Korn as a way to disprove these rankings. These are outliers. An anomaly. More often than not, rankings are pretty accurate. That is why Clemson fans have all the right in the world to be thrilled by the job Dabo and his staff have done on the recruiting trail these past few cycles. They are not only picking up the top players, they are filling desperate needs on the team. At WR and LB where the depth was especially thin, this staff has completely restocked the cupboard with names such as Watkins, Steward, Peake, Anthony, and others. Clemson fans will expect these top players to bring wins, and many of them, on the field. This expectation is completely justified. This is where Dabo and his staff will continue to be scrutinized. Dabo’s biggest strength may ultimately contribute to his failure.

If you’re a Clemson fan, you’ve heard it countless times. Clemson underachieves. Talent is never the problem. As discussed just above, recruiting rankings are generally on point. If these talented players don’t bring wins on the field, then the problem lies elsewhere. The most logical reasoning is the lack of coaching ability of this top talent. Tommy Bowden and Billy Napier have lost their jobs over it. The majority of the time, High School athletes get by on their raw talent because they can and others on that level are not able to stop them. The main job of this coaching staff is to tailor these exceptional skills into ones that translate onto the collegiate football field (technique, scheme, footwork, etc.). Coaches Morris and Hobby were brought in to develop this talent and that is their main priority (aside from Morris’ play calling duties obviously). Continued failures with this great talent would be all the more evidence needed to point the blame at the coaching.

This idea is what makes the 2011 season so polarizing in my mind. It is no secret that Dabo, and TDP for that matter, is on the hot seat. He had a losing record at a school where that simply just does not happen. He has lost twice in a row to the rival school at a school where that does not happen. These new freshman and young kids will have great talent but they will be inexperienced and go through growing pains. That is the reality of the sport. These kids need time to develop. Clemson does not have this time. They need these players to produce wins, and produce them now. A third loss to a VERY GOOD USC team might just be the nail in the coffin for Dabo. Yes, we all hate the Cocks, but this is a good team. My question is: What will be Dabo’s threshold? Where does the line get drawn when the promises of great 2012, 2013, and beyond seasons no longer are good enough to leave this man coaching. If this staff disseminates, how will this new nucleus react? Will their talents go to waste by the transition of a new staff? If Dabo can just get through this year, greener pastures will lie ahead as the teaching develops. However, that is a big “If”.

Vote for Clemson vs. Michigan

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Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- DE

Malliciah Goodman

SDE: Malliciah Goodman, Jr.  


  Goodman is a player that has a monster of an upside.  He more than passes the eye test at 6'4" 265 lbs.  The trick is finding how to get the most out of that upside.  Goodman has been challenged by the coaching staff to take his game to another level much the same way Bowers was challenged last year.  Goodman will have to fight to keep his job, as freshman Corey Crawford impressed the coaches during camp.  Goodman has the potential to be great, but he needs to step up and give it his all this year.

Andre Branch

WDE: Andre Branch, Sr. 


  If the coaches ever hit on an unknown, underrated player, it was Branch.  Branch was a two star defensive end coming out of high school with Clemson being his only offer.  Now, some draft analysts have him a possible first round pick in next year's NFL Draft.  Branch got significant playing time in 2009 and was the starter in 2010.  At 6'5" 260 lbs, Branch is consistent and his play has been overshadowed by great players on the defensive line. (Bowers, Jenkins, Thompson)  Barring injury, expect another consistent and possibly awesome year from Branch.


BACKUPS:

Corey Crawford

SDE: Corey Crawford, Fr. 


  If you look at Clemson's defensive line next year and see a No. 93 out there, it is not DaQuan.  Crawford was given the number and hopefully he will be the next great No. 93.  Crawford looks freakishly good for a player at his age.  At 6'5" 275 lbs, he is a monster of a DE.  Not wanting to jump the gun, but I don't see any slacking off with the loss of DaQuan Bowers.  Crawford was dominant throughout spring practice.  When Kourtnei Brown went down with an injury, he moved over to WDE and continued his dominance.  During the spring game, he man-handled LT Brandon Thomas at times.  Crawford looks like the real deal.

Kourtnei Brown

WDE:  Kourtnei Brown, Sr. 


  Brown is a solid back-up.  He has played well, but never truly lived up to the high expectations that he came to Clemson with.  Brown was injured during the spring but should be fine for summer practice.  He is not expected to challenge Branch for the starting spot, and if anything should happen to Branch, I expect Crawford will move over to fill in.

Joe Gore

Joe Gore is the only other player on the roster that is listed at DE and if injuries become a problem, then he will move into the SDE and Goodman will move to either side he is needed.  Gore is a freshman that enrolled early and participated during spring practice.  He is expected to avoid a redshirt.

The defensive end position is extremely talented, but lacks a lot of depth.  The second level is young, but if major injuries occur, then Tavaris Barnes could slide over from defensive tackle to his original spot.  I expect great things from the ends this year, and expect no significant drop-off from last year.  It all revolves around leadership though.  Bowers was the leader on this line, and it is expected that Goodman should join Brandon Thompson as a leader on this line.  If Goodman steps up, Branch is once again consistent, and Crawford is as good as expected, this could be a nightmare for ACC defensive coordinators.

Morris Does It Again

Chad Morris has secured a second verbal commitment from a high profile player in as many weeks.  RB/WR Zac Brooks committed to Dabo Swinney and the Tigers on Monday night, following his visit to Clemson last week.  Brooks fits Morris' style of offense and will play the RB/WR position for the Tigers.  Brooks is the #12 Athlete in the nation by Rivals.com.