2007 NCAA Football Preview: A Look at Clemson Football

For a team that usually finishes the season very strong, the 2006 Clemson Tiger football team did anything but that. After starting out the season six and one, the tigers look destined for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, but a late season loss at Virginia Tech and a disappointing last minute loss against Maryland lead Clemson to the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. After dropping to Kentucky in the bowl game, the Tigers were able to bounce back and add a solid recruiting class for the upcoming 2007 season. The solid base of talent that returns and the addition of the new recruits should give tiger fans something to look forward to this fall.

The offense will run behind a talented yet somewhat inexperienced offensive line. Playing left tackle is three year starter and preseason all American, Barry Richardson. Since the tigers will have a new starting quarterback, there is no better tackle in the nation to watch the new signal callers back. Chris McDuffie saw significant playing time last year after senior lineman Roman Fry was injured on the first play of the Georgia Tech game. Other linemen that will be included in the mix are Barry Humphries, Thomas Austin, Corey Lambert, Christian Capote, and possibly incoming freshman Mason Cloy. Austin has the athletic ability and size to play any position on the line and Barry Humphries, who will no be given the opportunity to start after waiting behind several seniors, should prove why he was a highly regarded high school recruit.

Running behind the offensive line will be two of the best running backs in the nation. For those of you who saw Clemson's homecoming game against Georgia Tech last season, you know the possibility when holes are open for these two "home run hitting backs". Any time James Davis or C.J. Spiller touch the football, they have the potential to take it the distance. Davis emerged as an elite back toward the end of his freshman season two years ago and Spiller made his presence known in his second collegiate game against Boston College. Davis is a more traditional inside the tackles back but still has great explosiveness. Anyone who witnessed the Clemson Spring Game got a glimpse of that as he exploded out of the backfield and broke away from the defenders in pursuit. C.J. Spiller could very well be the next Reggie Bush. The track star has unbelievable speed and amazing cut back ability. Spiller is also a threat to catch passes out of the backfield. With these two horses in the stable, the Clemson offense should have a solid running game.

The fate of the tiger's season will rest in the hands of the quarterback. But who the quarterback will be is the question. Cullen Harper has had a solid spring and has appeared to be the starter, but one can only question how good he is after remaining Will Proctor's backup the entire season. Clemson has brought in one of the nations best freshman quarterbacks in Willy Korn. Korn practically rewrote the South Carolina high school record books while he as at Byrnes High School. Despite not looking as good his senior year, Korn still earned a trip to the US Army All American game and now has tiger fans excited that he will be in orange and white this coming year. Both Harper and Korn have good arm strength and their athletic ability will also make them some what of a duel threat to the opposition's defense this coming year.

While the big question lies at quarterback, those catching the passes are sure to be good. As a freshman last year Michael Palmer showed signs of greatness at tight end, and offense coordinator Rob Spence utilizes the tight end in his offensive scheme. A solid wide racier core also returns for the tiger offense. Aaron Kelly and Rendrick Taylor are two possession receivers who are very sure handed. The two speedsters of the core are Jacoby Ford and Tyler Grisham. Ford has unbelievable speed and Grisham will rarely be seen dropping a ball.

Many older tiger fans often rave about the defenses that Danny Ford use to put on the field, and this year's defense might be one of those teams. The amount of speed the tiger defense will have on the field is awesome. Although the defense will be slightly inexperienced the talent and speed should more than make up for it. The defensive front will be lead by Dorrell Scott and Jock McQuisic. These two defensive tackles along with the speed rush of Ricky Sapp and balanced attack of Phillip Merling will provided ample pressure on the opposing quarterback and should shut down the run. If the opposition does break the front line, Clemson's linebackers will be up to the task. Antonio Clay showed had several great games last season and should be back ready to take over the middle line backing spot after taking the spring semester off for family issues. To his left and right will be Nick Watkins and Tremanie Billie. Both have the speed to cover a slot receiver yet are still able to hit like freight trains when stopping the run. The tiger secondary will be lead my Michael Hamlin. The safety has tremendous leadership and great ball hawking ability and will be joined by Chris Clemmons as the tiger's last line of defense. After losing both corners, the combination of Crezdon Butler, Byron Maxwell, Darius Gaither, and Chris Chancellor, will be the ones trying to shut down the opposing wide receivers.

The home opener against Florida State should set the tone for the rest of the season. With Coach Tommy Bowden struggling to finish last year the tigers will have a fire in their belly to put together a complete season. The tigers will have a chance to win the Atlantic division of the ACC but I believe they will need an upset or two from another team in the league to put them there. Playing in Jacksonville would be extremely nice but its looking like the Tigers might only be able to muster another eight win season.