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A couple months ago Clemson played in the Orange Bowl against West Virginia. We did not take the time to evaluate how this squad’s recruited talent compared to our Clemson Tigers at game time and have been requested to supply this info. 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) within the "2012 Orange Bowl Guide" that was placed on the site back in January. I will go ahead and tell you that because of injuries and Monday depth chart adjustments, some items here may end up a little out of place come game time so, in an effort to maintain consistency, I’ll use both teams’ depth charts as presented on the official Clemson Athletics 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. A player whose Scout/Rivals data was not available but was signed was 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.
We all know what happened in the game, so I won't rant and rave again here but do encourage you to share your thoughts.
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.
Team |
Recruiting Service |
Offense |
Defense |
Specialists |
Clemson |
Scout |
3.44 |
3.26 |
3.22 |
Rivals |
3.56 |
3.30 |
3.00 |
|
Average |
3.50 |
3.28 |
3.11 |
|
West Virginia |
Scout |
2.82 |
2.79 |
3.33 |
Rivals |
3.00 |
2.87 |
3.17 |
|
Average |
2.91 |
2.83 |
3.25 |
Clemson Offense | West Virginia Offense | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
LT | 79 | PHILLIP PRICE | 6-5 | 315 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | LT | 64 | DON BARCLAY | 6-4 | 305 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
63 | Brandon Thomas | 6-3 | 300 | *So. | 4 | 4 | 79 | Nick Kindler | 6-6 | 292 | *So. | 2 | 3 | |||
LG | 63 | BRANDON THOMAS | 6-3 | 300 | *So. | 4 | 4 | LG | 57 | JEFF BRAUN | 6-4 | 320 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
73 | David Smith | 6-5 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 65 | Chad Snodgrass | 6-4 | 295 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | |||
C | 55 | DALTON FREEMAN | 6-5 | 285 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | C | 74 | JOE MADSEN | 6-4 | 300 | *Jr. | 3 | 2 | |
62 | Mason Cloy | 6-3 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 57 | Jeff Braun | 6-4 | 320 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | |||
RG | 74 | ANTOINE McCLAIN | 6-6 | 335 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | RG | 67 | QUINTON SPAIN | 6-5 | 348 | *Fr. | 4 | 4 | |
62 | Mason Cloy | 6-3 | 310 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 55 | Tyler Rader | 6-3 | 296 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | |||
RT | 72 | LANDON WALKER | 6-6 | 305 | *Gr. | 4 | 4 | RT | 62 | CURTIS FEIGT | 6-6 | 314 | *So. | 2 | 2 | |
70 | Gifford Timothy | 6-6 | 315 | *Fr. | 2 | 3 | 76 | Pat Eger | 6-6 | 296 | *So. | 2 | 3 | |||
TE | 83 | DWAYNE ALLEN | 6-4 | 255 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | WR-X | 3 | STEDMAN BAILEY | 5-10 | 190 | *So. | 3 | 4 | |
80 | Brandon Ford | 6-4 | 235 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | 80 | Ryan Nehlen | 6-2 | 204 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | |||
86 | Sam Cooper | 6-4 | 240 | *Fr. | 2 | 2 | IWR-H | 1 | TAVON AUSTIN | 5-9 | 173 | Jr. | 5 | 4 | ||
WR | 6 | DeANDRE HOPKINS | 6-1 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | 85 | Willie Milhouse | 6-1 | 202 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | ||
1 | Martavis Bryant | 6-5 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | QB | 12 | GENO SMITH | 6-3 | 214 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | ||
QB | 10 | TAJH BOYD | 6-1 | 225 | *So. | 5 | 4 | 14 | Paul Millard | 6-1 | 218 | Fr. | 2 | 3 | ||
8 | Cole Stoudt | 6-4 | 200 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | RB-A | 29 | DUSTIN GARRISON | 5-8 | 175 | Fr. | 2 | 2 | ||
RB | 23 | ANDRE ELLINGTON | 5-10 | 190 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | 13 | Andrew Buie | 5-9 | 184 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||
22 | D.J. Howard | 5-11 | 195 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 9 | Vernard Roberts | 5-9 | 182 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
25 | Roderick McDowell | 5-9 | 190 | *So. | 3 | 4 | RB-B | 20 | SHAWNE ALSTON | 5-11 | 221 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
FB | 30 | CHAD DIEHL | 6-2 | 260 | *Sr. | 2 | 3 | 32 | Ryan Clarke | 6-0 | 232 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
WR | 18 | JARON BROWN | 6-2 | 200 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 38 | Matt Lindamood | 6-0 | 236 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | ||
19 | Charone Peake | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 41 | Ricky Kovatch | 6-1 | 234 | Sr. | N/A | N/A | |||
26 | Marquan Jones | 5-10 | 195 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | IWR-Y | 89 | TYLER URBAN | 6-5 | 251 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | ||
WR | 2 | SAMMY WATKINS | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | 4 | Devon Brown | 5-9 | 185 | *Sr. | 2 | 2 | ||
16 | Adam Humphries | 6-0 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | WR-Z | 81 | J.D. WOODS | 6-0 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
5 | Ivan McCartney | 6-3 | 176 | So. | 4 | 4 |
Clemson Defense | West Virginia 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 | DE | 98 | WILL CLARKE | 6-6 | 260 | *So. | 2 | 2 | |
90 | Kourtnei Brown | 6-6 | 255 | *Gr. | 4 | 4 | 11 | Bruce Irvin | 6-3 | 236 | Sr. | 5 | 4 | |||
NG | 98 | BRANDON THOMPSON | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | 92 | Trevor Demko | 6-6 | 251 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
43 | Tyler Shatley | 6-3 | 295 | *So. | 3 | 3 | NT | 99 | JORGE WRIGHT | 6-2 | 281 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
DT | 94 | RENNIE MOORE | 6-3 | 265 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | 94 | Josh Taylor | 6-1 | 285 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | ||
99 | DeShawn Williams | 6-1 | 290 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 93 | Kyle Rose | 6-4 | 248 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
BE | 40 | ANDRE BRANCH | 6-5 | 260 | *Sr. | 2 | 2 | DT | 97 | JULIAN MILLER | 6-4 | 259 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
93 | Corey Crawford | 6-5 | 280 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 91 | J.B. Lageman | 6-3 | 270 | *Jr. | 2 | N/A | |||
SLB | 34 | QUANDON CHRISTIAN | 6-2 | 220 | *So. | 3 | 3 | 90 | Shaq Rowell | 6-3 | 301 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
41 | Daniel Andrews | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | SLB | 47 | DOUG RIGG | 6-1 | 228 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
MLB | 42 | CORICO HAWKINS | 5-11 | 230 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 53 | Tyler Anderson | 6-2 | 238 | *So. | N/A | N/A | ||
12 | Stephone Anthony | 6-3 | 235 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | MLB | 33 | JARED BARBER | 6-0 | 225 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
33 | Spencer Shuey | 6-3 | 250 | *So. | 3 | 3 | 56 | Jewone Snow | 6-3 | 236 | *Fr. | 2 | 3 | |||
WLB | 46 | JONATHAN WILLARD | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | WLB | 52 | NAJEE GOODE | 6-1 | 239 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | |
8 | Justin Parker | 6-1 | 225 | So. | 3 | 4 | 43 | Casey Vance | 5-9 | 222 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | |||
CB | 15 | COTY SENSABAUGH | 6-0 | 185 | *Gr. | 2 | 2 | 17 | Josh Francis | 6-1 | 214 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
21 | Darius Robinson | 5-11 | 170 | So. | 3 | 4 | LCB | 8 | KEITH TANDY | 5-10 | 200 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | ||
SS | 29 | XAVIER BREWER | 5-11 | 190 | *Jr. | 4 | 3 | 34 | Ishmael Banks | 6-0 | 185 | *Fr. | 2 | 3 | ||
5 | Jonathan Meeks | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | 18 | Brantwon Bowser | 5-11 | 185 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | |||
FS | 31 | RASHARD HALL | 6-1 | 210 | J*Gr. | 3 | 3 | SS | 28 | TERENCE GARVIN | 6-3 | 216 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | |
32 | Carlton Lewis | 6-2 | 205 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 37 | Wes Tonkery | 6-1 | 201 | *Fr. | 3 | 2 | |||
CB | 17 | BASHAUD BREELAND | 6-0 | 185 | *Fr. | 4 | 3 | FS | 24 | EAIN SMITH | 5-11 | 198 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
14 | Martin Jenkins | 5-9 | 175 | So. | 3 | 3 | 26 | Travis Bell | 6-2 | 202 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
46 | Matt Moro | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||
BS | 25 | DARWIN COOK | 5-11 | 201 | *So. | 3 | 2 | |||||||||
36 | Shaq Petteway | 6-0 | 200 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
RCB | 23 | BRODRICK JENKINS | 5-10 | 184 | *So. | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
6 | Pat Miller | 5-10 | 185 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
22 | Avery Williams | 5-11 | 176 | Fr. | 2 | 3 |
Clemson Specialists | West Virginia Specialists | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
PK | 39 | CHANDLER CATANZARO | 6-2 | 200 | *So. | N/A | N/A | PK | 40 | TYLER BITANCURT | 6-1 | 198 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | 44 | Corey Smith | 5-11 | 214 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | |||
P | 96 | DAWSON ZIMMERMAN | 6-2 | 205 | Sr. | 3 | 2 | P | 44 | COREY SMITH | 5-11 | 214 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | 48 | Michael Molinari | 6-2 | 190 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | |||
KO | 13 | Spencer Benton | 6-2 | 195 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | KO | 44 | Corey Smith | 5-11 | 214 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
39 | Chandler Catanzaro | 6-2 | 200 | *So. | N/A | N/A | LS | 87 | Cody Nutter | 6-3 | 241 | *Sr. | N/A | N/A | ||
LS (PK) | 75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 195 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | 27 | Trent Lusk | 5-9 | 194 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | ||
52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-0 | 220 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | H | 48 | Michael Molinari | 6-2 | 190 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | ||
LS (P) | 52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-0 | 220 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | PR | 1 | Tavon Austin | 5-9 | 173 | Jr. | 5 | 4 | |
75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 195 | *Fr. | N/A | N/A | 23 | Brodrick Jenkins | 5-10 | 184 | *So. | 3 | 3 | |||
H | 96 | Dawson Zimmerman | 6-2 | 205 | *Sr. | 3 | 2 | KOR | 1 | Tavon Austin | 5-9 | 173 | Jr. | 5 | 4 | |
PR | 6 | DeAndre Hopkins | 6-1 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | 3 | Stedman Bailey | 5-10 | 190 | *So. | 3 | 4 | ||
2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | 4 | Devon Brown | 5-9 | 185 | *Sr. | 2 | 2 | |||
KOR | 2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
18 | Jaron Brown | 5-10 | 190 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 |