The Florida State Seminoles roll into town Saturday with a talented team that was a popular preseason pick to win the conference. We'll see how this squad's recruited talent compares to our Clemson Tigers. Before we get into the analysis, I'll point out that I have taken the depth charts for both teams DIRECTLY from the Clemson website (www.clemsontigers.com). A pdf version of this can be found here. I will go ahead and tell you that because of injuries and Monday depth chart adjustments, some items here are a little out of place (for instance, Chad Morris openly stated Monday that Brandon Thomas would start at LG) but in an effort to maintain consistency, I'll use both teams' depth charts as presented on the official website.
We should not have to tell you this, but some folks debate what to take from these articles. We expect you, the reader, to form an opinion of your own. Often we will give you our take on things, but you should independently form your own thoughts based on information out there. This article shows recruiting data for the depth chart roster as referenced above. It does not weigh experience nor does it evaluate coaching, preparation, etc... We think this is an interesting and valuable tool that is useful in overall program evaluation because there is a link between these star ratings and other metrics in both college football and the NFL.
Keep in mind as you look through this data that only players who were officially signed were given a "Star Rating". Players who were not signed could not be quantitatively assessed a recruiting rating. Such players get a "NA" rating and were not included in the averaged data. Again, all data was attained from www.Scout.com and www.Rivals.com. Players whose Scout/Rivals data was not available but were signed were assigned a "NR". We picked carefully through the data and believe all is correct. However, if we've overlooked an item we apologize in advance and ask that you point it out so that we can make the correction in our database.
Figure 1 and Table I both show an average of offensive players, defensive players, and specialist listed on the two-deep roster. Tables II through IV show the two-deep roster used for analysis along with the recruiting ratings for each player on the roster. A quick glance shows you Clemson has better quality recruited talent in two of the three facets of the game, as described and illustrated below.
Offensively, Clemson narrowly eclipsed FSU on average. On defense, the ‘Noles are nearly half a star better than Clemson and clearly have a very, very talented group. Scout rated FSU at a 3.00 average star level that brought their special teams average down to 3.24 stars per player and allowed Clemson to better the Seminoles by over a tenth of a star per player. The huge defensive advantage allows the Seminoles an overall 0.15 stars/player advantage.
Team | Recruiting Service | Offense | Defense | Specialists | Overall Average |
Clemson | Scout | 3.44 | 3.27 | 3.40 | 3.37 |
Rivals | 3.52 | 3.35 | 3.30 | 3.41 | |
Average | 3.48 | 3.31 | 3.35 | 3.39 | |
Florida State | Scout | 3.48 | 3.75 | 3.00 | 3.50 |
Rivals | 3.44 | 3.79 | 3.50 | 3.59 | |
Average | 3.46 | 3.77 | 3.24 | 3.54 |
Figure 1: Overall Depth Chart Talent Comparison
Clemson Offense | Florida State Offense | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
LT | 79 | PHILLIP PRICE | 6-5 | 315 | *Sr. | NA | NA | LT | 67 | ANDREW DATKO | 6-6 | 321 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
63 | Brandon Thomas | 6-3 | 300 | *So. | 4 | 4 | 70 | Josue Matias | 6-5 | 320 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | |||
LG | 62 | MASON CLOY | 6-3 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | LG | 60 | JACOB FAHRENKRUG | 6-4 | 315 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
73 | David Smith | 6-5 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 52 | Bryan Stork | 6-4 | 299 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
C | 55 | DALTON FREEMAN | 6-5 | 285 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | C | 52 | BRYAN STORK | 6-4 | 299 | So. | 3 | 3 | |
62 | Mason Cloy | 6-3 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 60 | Jacob Fahrenkrug | 6-4 | 315 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |||
RG | 74 | ANTOINE McCLAIN | 6-6 | 335 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | RG | 79 | DAVID SPURLOCK | 6-4 | 308 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
77 | Reid Webster | 6-4 | 295 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 53 | Sterling Lovelady | 6-2 | 285 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
RT | 72 | LANDON WALKER | 6-6 | 305 | *Gr. | 4 | 4 | RT | 77 | ZEBRIE SANDERS | 6-6 | 307 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | |
70 | Gifford Timothy | 6-6 | 315 | *Fr. | 2 | 3 | 76 | Garrett Faircloth | 6-7 | 295 | So. | 2 | 2 | |||
TE | 83 | DWAYNE ALLEN | 6-4 | 255 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | TE | 88 | BEAU RELIFORD | 6-6 | 260 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | |
80 | Brandon Ford | 6-4 | 235 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | 85 | Ja’Baris Little | 6-3 | 245 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | |||
86 | Sam Cooper | 6-4 | 240 | *Fr. | 2 | 2 | or | 35 | Nick O'Leary | 6-4 | 240 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | ||
WR | 6 | DeANDRE HOPKINS | 6-1 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | WR-X | 80 | RASHAD GREENE | 6-1 | 175 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | |
11 | Bryce McNeal | 6-1 | 180 | *So. | 4 | 4 | 83 | Bert Reed | 5-10 | 183 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | |||
1 | Martavis Bryant | 6-5 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 12 | Jarred Haggins | 6-1 | 191 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
QB | 10 | TAJH BOYD | 6-1 | 225 | *So. | 5 | 4 | 81 | Kenny Shaw | 5-11 | 170 | So. | 4 | 4 | ||
8 | Cole Stoudt | 6-4 | 200 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | QB | 3 | E.J. MANUEL | 6-5 | 245 | Jr. | 5 | 4 | ||
RB | 23 | ANDRE ELLINGTON | 5-10 | 190 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | 9 | Clint Trickett | 6-2 | 180 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
5 | Mike Bellamy | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | 4 | 5 | TB | 33 | TY JONES | 5-10 | 210 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | ||
22 | D.J. Howard | 5-11 | 195 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | or | 23 | CHRIS THOMPSON | 5-8 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | ||
FB | 30 | CHAD DIEHL | 6-2 | 260 | *Sr. | 2 | 3 | 8 | Devonta Freeman | 5-8 | 200 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | ||
84 | Darrell Smith | 6-2 | 245 | *So. | 3 | 2 | FB | 24 | LONNIE PRYOR | 6-0 | 230 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | ||
WR | 18 | JARON BROWN | 6-2 | 200 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 21 | Debrale Smiley | 5-11 | 230 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | ||
19 | Charone Peake | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | WR-Z | 84 | RODNEY SMITH | 6-6 | 216 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | ||
26 | Marquan Jones | 5-10 | 195 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | 15 | Greg Dent | 5-11 | 191 | So. | 4 | 4 | |||
WR | 2 | SAMMY WATKINS | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | 89 | Christian Green | 6-2 | 205 | Fr. | 5 | 4 | ||
13 | Adam Humphries | 6-0 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 2 |
Clemson Defense | Florida State Defense | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
DE | 97 | MALLICIAH GOODMAN | 6-4 | 280 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | LDE | 95 | BJOERN WERNER | 6-4 | 273 | So. | 4 | 3 | |
90 | Kourtnei Brown | 6-6 | 255 | *Gr. | 4 | 4 | 91 | Cornellius Carradine | 6-5 | 267 | Jr. | 5 | 4 | |||
NG | 98 | BRANDON THOMPSON | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | NG | 55 | JACOBBI McDANIEL | 6-1 | 297 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | |
43 | Tyler Shatley | 6-3 | 295 | *So. | 3 | 3 | or | 92 | ANTHONY McCLOUD | 6-2 | 311 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
50 | Grady Jarrett | 6-0 | 295 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 8 | Timmy Jernigan | 6-3 | 297 | Fr. | 5 | 4 | |||
DT | 94 | RENNIE MOORE | 6-3 | 265 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | DT | 93 | EVERETT DAWKINS | 6-2 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | |
99 | DeShawn Williams | 6-1 | 290 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 98 | Cameron Erving | 6-5 | 305 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
BE | 40 | ANDRE BRANCH | 6-5 | 260 | *Sr. | 2 | 2 | RDE | 49 | BRANDON JENKINS | 6-3 | 265 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
93 | Corey Crawford | 6-5 | 280 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 58 | Dan Hicks | 6-4 | 270 | So. | 2 | 2 | |||
SLB | 34 | QUANDON CHRISTIAN | 6-2 | 220 | *So. | 3 | 3 | SLB | 7 | CHRISTIAN JONES | 6-4 | 240 | So. | 4 | 5 | |
8 | Justin Parker | 6-1 | 225 | So. | 3 | 4 | 28 | Nigel Terrell | 6-1 | 230 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
41 | Daniel Andrews | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | MLB | 11 | VINCE WILLIAMS | 6-1 | 240 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | ||
MLB | 42 | CORICO HAWKINS | 5-11 | 230 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 22 | Telvin Smith | 6-3 | 216 | So. | 3 | 4 | ||
12 | Stephone Anthony | 6-3 | 235 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | WLB | 13 | NIGEL BRADHAM | 6-3 | 240 | Sr. | 5 | 5 | ||
33 | Spencer Shuey | 6-3 | 250 | *So. | 3 | 3 | 48 | Jeff Luc | 6-0 | 245 | So. | 5 | 4 | |||
WLB | 46 | JONATHAN WILLARD | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | FCB | 5 | GREG REID | 5-8 | 186 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | |
7 | Tony Steward | 6-1 | 245 | Fr. | 4 | 5 | 1 | Mike Harris | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | |||
CB | 15 | COTY SENSABAUGH | 6-0 | 185 | *Gr. | 2 | 2 | SS | 4 | TERRANCE PARKS | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. | 4 | 3 | |
17 | Bashaud Breeland | 6-0 | 185 | *Fr. | 4 | 3 | or | 10 | Nick Moody | 6-2 | 224 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | ||
SS | 5 | JONATHAN MEEKS | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | 9 | Karlos Williams | 6-2 | 220 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | ||
27 | Robert Smith | 5-11 | 210 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | FS | 20 | LAMARCUS JOYNER | 5-8 | 204 | So. | 5 | 5 | ||
FS | 31 | RASHARD HALL | 6-1 | 210 | J*Gr. | 3 | 3 | 31 | Terrence Brooks | 5-11 | 193 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
32 | Carlton Lewis | 6-2 | 205 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | BCB | 27 | XAVIER RHODES | 6-2 | 215 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
CB | 29 | XAVIER BREWER | 5-11 | 190 | *Jr. | 4 | 3 | 21 | Avis Commack | 6-4 | 203 | Jr. | 4 | 3 | ||
21 | Darius Robinson | 5-11 | 170 | So. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
14 | Martin Jenkins | 5-9 | 175 | So. | 3 | 3 |
Clemson Specialists | Florida State Specialists | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
PK | 39 | CHANDLER CATANZARO | 6-2 | 200 | *So. | NA | NA | PK | 18 | DUSTIN HOPKINS | 6-2 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | P | 45 | SHAWN POWELL | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | ||
P | 96 | DAWSON ZIMMERMAN | 6-2 | 205 | Sr. | 3 | 2 | 29 | Dillon Kidd | 6-1 | 212 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | ||
13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | KO | 18 | Dustin Hopkins | 6-2 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
KO | 13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | LS | 64 | Dax Dellenbach | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
LS | 52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-0 | 220 | *Fr. | NA | NA | 75 | Philip Doumar | 6-1 | 215 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 195 | *Fr. | NA | NA | H | 45 | Shawn Powell | 6-4 | 235 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | ||
H | 13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | 29 | Dillon Kidd | 6-1 | 212 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | ||
PR | 6 | DeAndre Hopkins | 6-1 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | PR | 5 | Greg Reid | 5-8 | 186 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | |
2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | 80 | Rashad Greene | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | |||
KOR | 2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | 81 | Kenny Shaw | 5-11 | 170 | So. | 4 | 4 | ||
23 | Andre Ellington | 5-10 | 190 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | KOR | 5 | Greg Reid | 5-8 | 186 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | ||
5 | Mike Bellamy | 5-10 | 175 | Fr. | 4 | 5 | 20 | Lamarcus Joyner | 5-8 | 204 | So. | 5 | 5 |