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We'll compare these two teams' 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.
As bad as Virginia looks on the football field, this week's data really surprised me. Virginia appears to have a good bit more talent (again, based on the criteria outlined above) than most of our ACC foes. Clemson holds a modest --compared to other ACC schools not named Florida State--lead over UVa on offense and defense (0.20 and 0.30 stars per player, respectively). The specialists category (which saw no UVa kicker ranked, thus virtually included only skills players) boosted the Virginia rankings a bit and the Wahoos ended up only 0.15 stars per rated player behind Clemson. I'll let you look at the data and form your own opinions--though you potions of this data clearly indicates that Virginia (as most perceived) is bringing in talent despite their on-field results.
Team | Recruiting Service | Offense | Defense | Specialists | Overall Average |
Clemson | Scout | 3.20 | 3.29 | 3.25 | 3.25 |
Rivals | 3.20 | 3.50 | 3.00 | 3.28 | |
Average | 3.20 | 3.40 | 3.13 | 3.26 | |
Virginia | Scout | 2.93 | 3.12 | 3.43 | 3.07 |
Rivals | 3.07 | 3.08 | 3.71 | 3.15 | |
Average | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.57 | 3.11 |
Offense
Clemson Offense | Virginia 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 | 78 | MORGAN MOSES | 6-6 | 325 | Sr. | 4 | 4 | |
79 | Isaiah Battle | 6-7 | 275 | So. | 3 | 3 | 76 | Michael Mooney | 6-6 | 285 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
LG | 67 | KALON DAVIS | 6-5 | 340 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | LG | 74 | CONNER DAVIS | 6-5 | 300 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
68 | David Beasley | 6-4 | 320 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 61 | Cody Wallace | 6-4 | 295 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |||
C | 58 | RYAN NORTON | 6-3 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | C | 70 | LUKE BOWANKO | 6-6 | 300 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | |
57 | Jay Guillermo | 6-3 | 315 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 67 | Jackson Matteo | 6-5 | 290 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | |||
RG | 62 | TYLER SHATLEY | 6-3 | 300 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 65 | Ross Burbank | 6-4 | 290 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
77 | Reid Webster | 6-3 | 300 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | RG | 77 | JAY WHITMIRE | 6-6 | 300 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
RT | 70 | GIFFORD TIMOTHY | 6-6 | 315 | *Jr. | 2 | 3 | 68 | Eric Tetlow | 6-6 | 300 | Fr. | 2 | 3 | ||
76 | Shaq Anthony | 6-4 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | RT | 72 | ERIC SMITH | 6-5 | 295 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | ||
TE | 81 | STANTON SECKINGER | 6-4 | 230 | *So. | 2 | 3 | 75 | Sadiq Olanrewaju | 6-6 | 280 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
86 | Sam Cooper | 6-6 | 250 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | TE | 83 | JAKE McGEE | 6-6 | 250 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | ||
or | 40 | Darrell Smith | 6-1 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 2 | or | 49 | ZACHARY SWANSON | 6-6 | 255 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
or | 16 | Jordan Leggett | 6-5 | 240 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 89 | Rob Burns | 6-7 | 250 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
WR | 2 | SAMMY WATKINS | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | WR | 85 | KEEON JOHNSON | 6-3 | 200 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |
82 | T.J. Green | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | 84 | Canaan Severin | 6-2 | 225 | So. | 3 | 4 | |||
87 | Matt Porter | 5-11 | 200 | *Jr. | N.A | N/A | 80 | Adrian Gamble | 6-1 | 180 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
QB | 10 | TAJH BOYD | 6-1 | 225 | *Sr. | 5 | 4 | QB | 5 | DAVID WATFORD | 6-2 | 200 | So. | 3 | 3 | |
18 | Cole Stoudt | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 11 | Greyson Lambert | 6-5 | 220 | Fr. | 4 | 3 | |||
RB | 25 | RODERICK McDOWELL | 5-10 | 200 | *Gr. | 3 | 4 | 15 | Matt Johns | 6-5 | 205 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
24 | Zac Brooks | 6-1 | 190 | So. | 4 | 4 | TB | 25 | KEVIN PARKS | 5-8 | 205 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
22 | D.J. Howard | 6-0 | 195 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 23 | Khalek Shepherd | 5-8 | 185 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |||
WR | 13 | ADAM HUMPHRIES | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | or | 4 | Taquan Mizzell | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | 4 | 5 | |
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | 22 | Daniel Hamm | 5-10 | 190 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | |||
WR | 1 | MARTAVIS BRYANT | 6-5 | 200 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | FB | 3 | BILLY SKROBACZ | 5-9 | 220 | Sr. | N/A | N/A | |
7 | Mike Williams | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 41 | Connor Wingo-Reeves | 6-3 | 220 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | |||
WR | 6 | DARIUS JENNINGS | 5-11 | 175 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
2 | Dominique Terrell | 5-11 | 170 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||
17 | Miles Gooch | 6-3 | 220 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
WR | 20 | TIM SMITH | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | |||||||||
87 | Kyle Dockins | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
17 | Miles Gooch | 6-3 | 220 | Jr. | 2 | 3 |
Defense
Clemson Defense | Virginia 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 | 90 | JAKE SNYDER | 6-4 | 270 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
9 | Tavaris Barnes | 6-4 | 275 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | 32 | Mike Moore | 6-4 | 275 | So. | 4 | 4 | |||
DT | 50 | GRADY JARRETT | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | DT | 93 | DONTE WILKINS | 6-2 | 305 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |
48 | D.J. Reader | 6-2 | 325 | So. | 3 | 3 | 56 | Andre Miles-Redmond | 6-4 | 260 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
DT | 48 | D.J. READER | 6-2 | 325 | So. | 3 | 3 | DT | 55 | DAVID DEAN | 6-1 | 290 | So. | 3 | 3 | |
91 | JOSH WATSON | 6-4 | 290 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | 56 | Andre Miles-Redmond | 6-4 | 260 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
or | 99 | DeSHAWN WILLIAMS | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | DE | 7 | ELI HAROLD | 6-4 | 230 | So. | 5 | 4 | |
DE | 3 | VIC BEASLEY | 6-2 | 235 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 43 | Trent Corney | 6-3 | 250 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
90 | Shaq Lawson | 6-3 | 270 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | SLB | 88 | MAX VALLES | 6-5 | 240 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | ||
SLB | 34 | QUANDON CHRISTIAN | 6-2 | 230 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | 42 | Demeitre Brim | 6-3 | 225 | So. | 2 | 3 | ||
41 | T.J. Burrell | 5-11 | 215 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 59 | Mark Hall | 6-2 | 250 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
MLB | 42 | STEPHONE ANTHONY | 6-2 | 245 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | MLB | 44 | HENRY COLEY | 6-2 | 240 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
44 | B.J. Goodson | 6-1 | 235 | *So. | 2 | 3 | or | 13 | DAQUAN ROMERO | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
WLB | 33 | SPENCER SHUEY | 6-3 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | WLB | 13 | DAQUAN ROMERO | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
7 | Tony Steward | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | or | 51 | ZACH BRADSHAW | 6-3 | 210 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
CB | 17 | BASHAUD BREELAND | 5-9 | 185 | *Jr. | 4 | 3 | 29 | D.J. Hill | 6-0 | 220 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
14 | Martin Jenkins | 5-9 | 185 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | CB | 5 | TIM HARRIS | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | ||
S | 11 | TRAVIS BLANKS | 6-0 | 200 | So. | 4 | 4 | 1 | Demetrious Nicholson | 5-11 | 185 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | ||
20 | Jayron Kearse | 6-4 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 37 | Divante Walker | 5-11 | 170 | Fr. | 2 | 2 | |||
S | 27 | ROBERT SMITH | 5-11 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | SS | 8 | ANTHONY HARRIS | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
12 | Korrin Wiggins | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 38 | Kelvin Rainey | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
18 | Jadar Johnson | 6-1 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | FS | 27 | RIJO WALKER | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | ||
CB | 8 | DARIUS ROBINSON | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | or | 21 | BRANDON PHELPS | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
36 | Jerrodd Williams | 6-0 | 195 | *Sr. | 3 | 4 | 46 | Mason Thomas | 6-0 | 200 | So. | 2 | 2 | |||
CB | 22 | DreQUAN HOSKEY | 6-0 | 180 | Jr. | N/A | 2 | |||||||||
or | 26 | MAURICE CANADY | 6-2 | 185 | So. | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
21 | Brandon Phelps | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. | 4 | 4 |
Special Teams
Clemson Specialists | Virginia 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 | 30 | ALEX VOZENILEK | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | or | 14 | IAN FRYE | 6-6 | 195 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
P | 92 | BRADLEY PINION | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | P | 30 | ALEX VOZENILEK | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | KO | 91 | Dylan Sims | 6-0 | 195 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | ||
KO | 92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | LS | 45 | Matt Fortin | 5-11 | 185 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | 31 | Blake Blaze | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |||
LS(PK) | 75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | H | 15 | Matt Johns | 6-5 | 200 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |
52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | PR | 20 | Tim Smith | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | ||
LS(P) | 52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | 23 | Khalek Shepherd | 5-8 | 185 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | 2 | Dominique Terrell | 5-11 | 170 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |||
H | 32 | Corbin Jenkins | 5-10 | 175 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | KOR | 6 | Darius Jennings | 5-11 | 175 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | 4 | Taquan Mizzell | 5-10 | 185 | Fr. | 4 | 5 | |||
PR | 13 | Adam Humphries | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | 23 | Khalek Shepherd | 5-8 | 185 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
KOR | 2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
& | 1 | Martavis Bryant | 6-5 | 200 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
82 | T.J. Green | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
& | 25 | Roderick McDowell | 5-10 | 200 | *Gr. | 3 | 4 |