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We'll compare Clemson/'Cuse talent levels based on officially released two-deep depth charts. Depth charts for both teams were attained DIRECTLY from the Clemson website (www.clemsontigers.com). A pdf version of this can be found there as well. I will go ahead and tell you that because of injuries and depth chart adjustments between the release of this information and game time, some items here may be a little out of place 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.
The figure and first table both show an average of offensive players, defensive players, and specialist listed on the two-deep roster. The second through fourth tables show the two-deep roster used for analysis along with the recruiting ratings for each player on the roster.
Clemson again easily covers this week's opponent's talent based on the criteria listed above. Clemson is 0.71 stars per player better than Syracuse on offense, 0.92 on defense, and 0.62 on special teams per the provided two-deep charts. This correlates to an overall Clemson advantage of just over three quarters of a star per player.
Team | Recruiting Service | Offense | Defense | Specialists | Overall Average |
Clemson | Scout | 3.21 | 3.43 | 3.00 | 3.26 |
Rivals | 3.21 | 3.61 | 2.90 | 3.32 | |
Average | 3.21 | 3.52 | 2.95 | 3.29 | |
Syracuse | Scout | 2.50 | 2.48 | 2.33 | 2.46 |
Rivals | 2.50 | 2.71 | 2.33 | 2.56 | |
Average | 2.50 | 2.60 | 2.33 | 2.51 |
Offensive Comparison
Clemson Offense | Syracuse Offense | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
LT | 63 | BRANDON THOMAS | 6-3 | 315 | *Gr. | 4 | 4 | LT | 60 | SEAN HICKEY | 6-5 | 291 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
79 | Isaiah Battle | 6-7 | 275 | So. | 3 | 3 | 76 | Kyle Knapp | 6-4 | 276 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
LG | 68 | DAVID BEASLEY | 6-4 | 320 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | LG | 55 | ROB TRUDO | 6-3 | 284 | So. | 3 | 2 | |
or | 67 | KALON DAVIS | 6-5 | 340 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 57 | Omari Palmer | 6-2 | 309 | Fr. | 2 | 2 | ||
C | 58 | RYAN NORTON | 6-3 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | C | 59 | MACKY MacPHERSON | 6-2 | 290 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | |
57 | Jay Guillermo | 6-3 | 315 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 78 | Jason Emerich | 6-3 | 280 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | |||
RG | 62 | TYLER SHATLEY | 6-3 | 300 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | RG | 68 | NICK ROBINSON | 6-5 | 297 | So. | 2 | 2 | |
77 | Reid Webster | 6-3 | 300 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 64 | Daniel Anyaegbunam | 6-3 | 290 | Sr. | N/A | N/A | |||
RT | 76 | SHAQ ANTHONY | 6-4 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | RT | 72 | IVAN FOY | 6-4 | 313 | So. | 3 | 2 | |
or | 70 | GIFFORD TIMOTHY | 6-6 | 315 | *Jr. | 2 | 3 | 67 | Michael Lasker | 6-4 | 320 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
TE | 81 | STANTON SECKINGER | 6-4 | 230 | *So. | 2 | 3 | TE | 85 | BECKETT WALES | 6-3 | 255 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | |
40 | Darrell Smith | 6-1 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 2 | 89 | Josh Parris | 6-2 | 255 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
or | 86 | Sam Cooper | 6-6 | 250 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | H-BACK | 1 | ASHTON BROYLD | 6-2 | 221 | So. | 3 | 3 | |
WR | 2 | SAMMY WATKINS | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | 20 | Brisly Estime | 5-9 | 170 | Fr. | 2 | 3 | ||
82 | T.J. Green | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | WR | 25 | JEREMIAH KOBENA | 6-0 | 182 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | ||
QB | 10 | TAJH BOYD | 6-1 | 225 | *Sr. | 5 | 4 | 18 | Christopher Clark | 5-11 | 160 | Sr. | N/A | N/A | ||
18 | Cole Stoudt | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | QB | 10 | TERREL HUNT | 6-3 | 219 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
RB | 25 | RODERICK McDOWELL | 5-10 | 200 | *Gr. | 3 | 4 | 8 | Drew Allen | 6-5 | 226 | Sr. | N/A | N/A | ||
24 | Zac Brooks | 6-1 | 190 | So. | 4 | 4 | RB | 45 | JEROME SMITH | 6-0 | 226 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | ||
22 | D.J. Howard | 6-0 | 195 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | or | 23 | PRINCE-TYSON GULLEY | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | ||
WR | 13 | ADAM HUMPHRIES | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | FB | 31 | CLAY CLEVELAND | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | 34 | Adonis Ameen-Moore | 5-11 | 241 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |||
WR | 1 | MARTAVIS BRYANT | 6-5 | 200 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | WR | 88 | JARROD WEST | 6-2 | 203 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
7 | Mike Williams | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 18 | Christopher Clark | 5-11 | 160 | Sr. | N/A | N/A |
Defensive Comparison
Clemson Defense | Syracuse Defense | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
DE | 93 | COREY CRAWFORD | 6-5 | 270 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | DE | 94 | ROBERT WELSH | 6-3 | 256 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | |
9 | Tavaris Barnes | 6-4 | 275 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | 13 | Ron Thompson | 6-4 | 268 | Fr. | 4 | 3 | |||
DT | 50 | GRADY JARRETT | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | DT | 52 | ERIC CRUME | 6-0 | 305 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
48 | D.J. Reader | 6-2 | 325 | So. | 3 | 3 | 77 | Zian Jones | 6-4 | 311 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | |||
99 | DeSHAWN WILLIAMS | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 96 | JAY BROMLEY | 6-4 | 285 | Sr. | NA | NA | |||
or | 91 | JOSH WATSON | 6-4 | 290 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | 97 | John Raymon | 6-5 | 323 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
94 | Carlos Watkins | 6-3 | 295 | So. | 4 | 4 | DE | 93 | MICAH ROBINSON | 6-4 | 265 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
DE | 3 | VIC BEASLEY | 6-2 | 235 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 91 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-4 | 270 | Fr. | 2 | 2 | ||
90 | Shaq Lawson | 6-3 | 270 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | OLB | 38 | CAMERON LYNCH | 5-11 | 230 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
SLB | 34 | QUANDON CHRISTIAN | 6-2 | 230 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | 33 | Marqez Hodge | 5-11 | 208 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
41 | T.J. Burrell | 5-11 | 215 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | MLB | 11 | MARQUIS SPRUILL | 6-1 | 224 | Sr. | 2 | 4 | ||
MLB | 42 | STEPHONE ANTHONY | 6-2 | 245 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | 5 | Luke Arciniega | 6-2 | 241 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | ||
10 | Ben Boulware | 5-11 | 230 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | OLB | 35 | DYSHAWN DAVIS | 6-2 | 220 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
WLB | 33 | SPENCER SHUEY | 6-3 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 10 | Josh Kirkland | 6-2 | 204 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
7 | Tony Steward | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | CB | 8 | KEON LYN | 6-1 | 201 | Sr. | 3 | 2 | ||
CB | 17 | BASHAUD BREELAND | 6-0 | 185 | *Jr. | 4 | 3 | 21 | Julian Whigham | 6-1 | 187 | So. | 2 | 3 | ||
26 | Garry Peters | 6-0 | 185 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | SS | 3 | DURELL ESKRIDGE | 6-3 | 207 | So. | 2 | 3 | ||
S | 11 | TRAVIS BLANKS | 6-0 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | 6 | Ritchy Desir | 5-11 | 187 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | ||
12 | Korrin Wiggins | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | FS | 28 | JEREMI WILKES | 5-9 | 179 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | ||
S | 27 | ROBERT SMITH | 5-11 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 18 | Darius Kelly | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | ||
30 | Taylor Watson | 5-10 | 210 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | or | 2 | Wayne Morgan | 5-10 | 197 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
or | 20 | Jayron Kearse | 6-4 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | CB | 9 | Ri’SHARD ANDERSON | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | |
CB | 8 | DARIUS ROBINSON | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | or | 4 | BRANDON REDDISH | 5-11 | 186 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
14 | Martin Jenkins | 5-9 | 185 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 |
Special Teams Comparison
Clemson Specialists | Syracuse Specialists | |||||||||||||||
Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | Pos. | # | Player | Hgt | Wgt | Cl. | Scout | Rivals | |
PK | 39 | CHANDLER CATANZARO | 6-3 | 200 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | PK | 12 | RYAN NORTON | 5-11 | 179 | So. | 2 | 2 | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | P | 92 | RILEY DIXON | 6-5 | 205 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
P | 92 | BRADLEY PINION | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | 46 | Jonathan Fisher | 6-1 | 209 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | KO | 12 | Ryan Norton | 5-11 | 179 | So. | 2 | 2 | ||
KO | 92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | LS | 47 | Sam Rodgers | 6-2 | 234 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | 69 | Keith Mitsuuchi | 5-10 | 221 | So. | N/A | N/A | |||
LS(PK) | 75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | H | 17 | Charley Loeb | 6-4 | 220 | Sr. | 2 | 2 | |
52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | 92 | Riley Dixon | 6-5 | 205 | So. | N/A | N/A | |||
LS(P) | 52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | PR | 6 | Ritchy Desir | 5-11 | 187 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | |
75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | 18 | Darius Kelly | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | |||
H | 32 | Corbin Jenkins | 5-10 | 175 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | KOR | 27 | George Morris | 6-0 | 203 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |
92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | 29 | Devante McFarlane | 6-0 | 201 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
PR | 13 | Adam Humphries | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | |||||||||
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
KOR | 5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | |||||||||
& | 25 | Roderick McDowell | 5-10 | 200 | *Gr. | 3 | 4 |