|
EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
|
|
CLEMSON
TIGERS |
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Barry Richardson-OT, Chris McDuffie-OG, Brandon
Pilgrim-OG, Christian Capote-OT |
DEFENSE:
Tramaine
Billie-SLB, Nick Watkins-WLB |
|
|
|
Offensive
Backfield / Defensive Line |
Clemson has
strength at almost every unit.
Harper, Davis and Spiller make
this offensive backfield extremely
balanced. The veteran DL returns
everyone responsible for helping
the Tigers finish No.6 in total
defense. |
|
|
Offensive
Line / Linebacker |
The key for
Tommy Bowden will be how well
his OL matures after losing
two All-ACC performers. The
LBs also lose tackling machines
Billie and Watkins. |
|
|
|
QB
Cullen Harper |
|
DB
Michael Hamlin |
|
|
|
|
*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and
players that received the most playing experience
(consistent starters). NationalChamps.net
recognizes the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and
alternates. Their coverage will begin with
our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
|
|
|
CLEMSON
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Cullen
Harper-Sr |
Willy
Korn-So |
RB |
James
Davis-Sr |
Alex
Pearson-Sr (FB) |
RB |
C.J.
Spiller-Jr |
Sadat
Chambers-Jr |
WR |
Aaron
Kelly-Sr |
Jacoby
Ford-Jr |
WR |
Tyler
Grisham-Sr |
Rendrick
Taylor-Sr |
TE |
Michael
Palmer-Jr |
Brian
Linthicum-So |
OT |
Cory
Lambert-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Bobby
Hutchinson-Sr |
.. |
C |
Thomas
Austin-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Barry
Humphries-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Chris
Hairston-So |
.. |
K |
Mark
Buchholz-Sr |
.. |
|
|
CLEMSON
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Phillip
Merling-Sr |
Kevin
Alexander-Jr |
NG |
Dorell
Scott-Sr |
.. |
DT |
Rashaad
Jackson-Sr |
Jamie
Cumbie-Jr |
DE |
Ricky
Sapp-Jr |
Kourtnei
Brown-So |
SLB |
Scotty
Cooper-So |
.. |
MLB |
Cortney
Vincent-Sr |
Antonio
Clay-Sr |
WLB |
Kavell
Conner-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Chris
Chancellor-Jr |
Marcus
Gilchrist-So |
CB |
Crezdon
Butler-Jr |
Byron
Maxwell-So |
CAT |
Michael
Hamlin-Sr |
DeAndre
McDaniel-So |
FS |
Chris
Clemons-Sr |
.. |
P |
Jimmy
Maners-Sr |
.. |
|
|
QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Head
coach Tommy Bowden has never fared well
with lofty expectations. His Clemson teams
seem to do their best work when playing
the underdog role. That’s bad news
for the Tigers since they are primed for
a big season and are sure to be the ACC
Atlantic Division favorite heading into
2008. Several reasons exist for such expectations,
the first being the rise of Cullen Harper
at QB. NationalChamps.net was not even sure
if Harper would be the starter last preseason,
yet in the end, he wound up being better
than anyone could have imagined while making
All-ACC Second Team. His 27-to-6 touchdown-to-interception
ratio, as with most of his numbers, was
better than that of ACC Player of The Year
Matt Ryan. All of the receivers are back,
led by All-ACC pass catcher Aaron Kelly.
The thunder/lightning RB duo of James Davis
and C.J. Spiller is also back for another
season…assuming Davis does not skip
his senior season and head off to the NFL.
Their '07 output was not quite as spectacular
as in their previous campaign, but they
represent a huge asset. They will need these
two in order to prove such a high ranking
worthy, as the OL is a huge question mark
due to the graduation of a few key blockers.
For all of these offensive names, their
balanced defense is what carried Clemson
statistically. The nation's 20th-ranked
run stoppers and No.13 pass defenders return
nine starters and are loaded with experienced
upperclassmen. Being ranked this highly
this early is sure to raise a few eyebrows.
The bottom line...Clemson finished ranked
15th in the final regular season BCS poll;
they return all of their skill positions
on offense, including a top rated QB directing
the show; and they have a huge group of
veterans coming back to a defense that ranked
top 15 in most major statistical categories.
Tommy Bowden has one huge question mark...can
he find suitable replacements to patch holes
on the OL? If he does, Clemson is going
to do more than just knock on the league
championship door in 2008…they may
finally kick it down.
|
|
|
|
CLEMSON
2008 SCHEDULE
9-20
at Louisiana Tech @Shreveport,
LA
11-29 SOUTH CAROLINA
UCF
THE CITADEL
MARYLAND
at Wake Forest
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
at Florida State
at Boston College
at Virginia
at Georgia Tech
DUKE
|
|
|
|