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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 predicted, South Carolina is the third most talented team Clemson will face...behind the opening week (and relatively injury-free) Georgia team and the loaded Florida State Seminoles. Carolina and Clemson match up closely per the "recruiting gurus." Offensively, they look to be nearly a wash. I'll point out that SCar's Bruce Ellington was given lower/no ratings because he thought he would only play basketball in college. Defensively, the Tigers sport just over a 0.2 stars per player advantage over the Gamecocks. This gives Clemson what appears to be an overall advantage based on the metrics of this analysis.
Team | Recruiting Service | Offense | Defense | Specialists | Overall Average |
Clemson | Scout | 3.20 | 3.35 | 3.27 | 3.27 |
Rivals | 3.20 | 3.52 | 3.09 | 3.31 | |
Average | 3.20 | 3.43 | 3.18 | 3.29 | |
South Carolina | Scout | 3.18 | 3.07 | 2.57 | 3.06 |
Rivals | 3.15 | 3.36 | 3.17 | 3.25 | |
Average | 3.16 | 3.21 | 2.85 | 3.15 |
Offense
Clemson Offense | South Carolina 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 | 53 | COREY ROBINSON | 6-8 | 341 | Jr. | 2 | 3 | |
70 | Gifford Timothy | 6-6 | 315 | *Jr. | 2 | 3 | 74 | Mason Zandi | 6-9 | 293 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | |||
LG | 68 | DAVID BEASLEY | 6-4 | 320 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | LG | 50 | A.J. CANN | 6-4 | 314 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
67 | Kalon Davis | 6-5 | 340 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 65 | Brock Stadnik | 6-5 | 286 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | |||
C | 58 | RYAN NORTON | 6-3 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | C | 51 | CODY WALDROP | 6-2 | 319 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |
57 | Jay Guillermo | 6-3 | 315 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 54 | Clayton Stadnik | 6-3 | 281 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
RG | 62 | TYLER SHATLEY | 6-3 | 300 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | RG | 67 | RONALD PATRICK | 6-2 | 315 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
77 | Reid Webster | 6-3 | 300 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 75 | Will Sport | 6-5 | 294 | So. | 2 | 3 | |||
RT | 79 | ISAIAH BATTLE | 6-7 | 275 | So. | 3 | 3 | RT | 71 | BRANDON SHELL | 6-6 | 323 | So. | 5 | 4 | |
76 | Shaq Anthony | 6-4 | 280 | *So. | 3 | 3 | 78 | Cody Gibson | 6-7 | 286 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |||
TE | 81 | STANTON SECKINGER | 6-4 | 230 | *So. | 2 | 3 | TE | 81 | RORY ANDERSON | 6-5 | 242 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
86 | Sam Cooper | 6-6 | 250 | *Jr. | 2 | 2 | 89 | Jerell Adams | 6-6 | 237 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
or | 40 | Darrell Smith | 6-1 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 2 | 83 | Mason Zandi | 6-9 | 293 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | ||
or | 16 | Jordan Leggett | 6-5 | 240 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | WR | 4 | SHAQ ROLAND | 6-1 | 190 | So. | 5 | 4 | |
WR | 2 | SAMMY WATKINS | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | 8 | Shamier Jeffery | 6-1 | 207 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
82 | T.J. Green | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | 85 | Kane Whitehurst | 5-11 | 179 | So. | 2 | 3 | |||
QB | 10 | TAJH BOYD | 6-1 | 225 | *Sr. | 5 | 4 | QB | 14 | CONNOR SHAW | 6-1 | 209 | Sr. | 3 | 3 | |
18 | Cole Stoudt | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 17 | Dylan Thompson | 6-3 | 218 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |||
RB | 25 | RODERICK McDOWELL | 5-10 | 200 | *Gr. | 3 | 4 | 5 | Brendan Nosovitch | 6-1 | 220 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
22 | D.J. Howard | 6-1 | 190 | So. | 3 | 3 | TB | 28 | MIKE DAVIS | 5-9 | 215 | So. | 4 | 4 | ||
24 | Zac Brooks | 6-1 | 190 | So. | 4 | 4 | 7 | Shon Carson | 5-8 | 219 | So. | 4 | 3 | |||
WR | 13 | ADAM HUMPHRIES | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | 22 | Brandon Wilds | 6-2 | 223 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | FB | 41 | CONNOR McLAURIN | 6-0 | 237 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | ||
WR | 1 | MARTAVIS BRYANT | 6-5 | 200 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | 43 | Garrison Gist | 5-10 | 255 | So. | N/A | N/A | ||
7 | Mike Williams | 6-3 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | WR | 23 | BRUCE ELLINGTON | 5-9 | 196 | Jr. | 2 | N/A | ||
11 | Pharoh Cooper | 5-11 | 184 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
80 | K.J. Brent | 6-4 | 188 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
WR | 1 | DAMIERE BYRD | 5-9 | 166 | Jr. | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
3 | Nick Jones | 5-7 | 174 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
82 | Kwinton Smith | 6-4 | 212 | Fr. | 4 | 3 |
Defense
Clemson Defense | South Carolina 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 | CHAZ SUTTON | 6-5 | 263 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | |
9 | Tavaris Barnes | 6-4 | 275 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | 44 | Gerald Dixon | 6-2 | 268 | So. | 2 | 3 | |||
DT | 50 | GRADY JARRETT | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 34 | Mason Harris | 6-3 | 218 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
48 | D.J. Reader | 6-2 | 325 | So. | 3 | 3 | DT | 97 | J.T. SURRATT | 6-2 | 307 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | ||
DT | 91 | JOSH WATSON | 6-4 | 290 | *Jr. | 4 | 4 | 92 | Gerald Dixon, Jr. | 6-3 | 318 | So. | 2 | 3 | ||
or | 99 | DeSHAWN WILLIAMS | 6-1 | 295 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 93 | Deon Green | 6-4 | 287 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
or | 48 | D.J. READER | 6-2 | 325 | So. | 3 | 3 | DT | 99 | KELCY QUARLES | 6-4 | 298 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | |
DE | 3 | VIC BEASLEY | 6-2 | 235 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 52 | Phillip Dukes | 6-3 | 315 | So. | 4 | 4 | ||
90 | Shaq Lawson | 6-3 | 270 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | 94 | Kelsey Griffin | 6-2 | 292 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | |||
SLB | 34 | QUANDON CHRISTIAN | 6-2 | 230 | *Sr. | 3 | 3 | DE | 7 | JADEVEON CLOWNEY | 6-6 | 274 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | |
41 | T.J. Burrell | 5-11 | 215 | *Fr. | 3 | 3 | 5 | Darius English | 6-6 | 226 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
MLB | 42 | STEPHONE ANTHONY | 6-2 | 245 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | MLB | 8 | KAIWAN LEWIS | 6-0 | 221 | So. | 3 | 3 | |
10 | Ben Boulware | 5-11 | 230 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | 11 | T.J. Holloman | 6-2 | 228 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
WLB | 33 | SPENCER SHUEY | 6-3 | 240 | *Gr. | 3 | 3 | 28 | Jonathan Walton | 6-0 | 234 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | ||
7 | Tony Steward | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | 4 | 5 | WLB | 10 | SKAI MOORE | 6-2 | 205 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||
CB | 17 | BASHAUD BREELAND | 5-9 | 185 | *Jr. | 4 | 3 | 21 | Marcquis Roberts | 6-1 | 225 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
14 | Martin Jenkins | 5-9 | 185 | *Jr. | 3 | 3 | 18 | Cedrick Cooper | 6-2 | 213 | So. | 3 | 3 | |||
S | 20 | JAYRON KEARSE | 6-4 | 205 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | SPUR | 9 | SHARROD GOLIGHTLY | 5-10 | 195 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | |
18 | Jadar Johnson | 6-1 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | 42 | Jordan Diggs | 6-0 | 214 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | |||
S | 27 | ROBERT SMITH | 5-11 | 210 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | 32 | Larenz Bryant | 6-0 | 215 | Fr. | 4 | 4 | ||
12 | Korrin Wiggins | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | CB | 27 | VICTOR HAMPTON | 5-10 | 202 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | ||
CB | 8 | DARIUS ROBINSON | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | 3 | 4 | 4 | Ahmad Christian | 5-10 | 189 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||
26 | Garry Peters | 6-0 | 185 | *Jr. | 3 | 4 | SS | 12 | BRISON WILLIAMS | 5-11 | 218 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||
25 | Kadetrix Marcus | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
FS | 17 | CHAZ ELDER | 6-2 | 199 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | |||||||||
20 | T.J. Gurley | 5-10 | 196 | So. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
CB | 15 | JIMMY LEGREE | 6-0 | 187 | Sr. | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
1 | Rico McWilliams | 5-11 | 187 | Fr. | 3 | 3 |
Special Teams
Clemson Specialists | South Carolina 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 | 29 | ELLIOTT FRY | 6-0 | 150 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | 19 | Landon Ard | 5-9 | 172 | So. | N/A | N/A | |||
P | 92 | BRADLEY PINION | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | P | 13 | TYLER HULL | 6-2 | 206 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
36 | Ammon Lakip | 5-10 | 200 | *So. | 3 | 2 | 18 | Patrick Fish | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |||
KO | 92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | KO | 19 | Landon Ard | 5-9 | 172 | So. | N/A | N/A | |
39 | Chandler Catanzaro | 6-3 | 200 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | 29 | Elliott Fry | 6-0 | 150 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | |||
LS(PK) | 75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | LS(PK) | 58 | Ryland Culbertson | 6-4 | 265 | Jr. | N/A | N/A | |
52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | LS(P) | 47 | Drew Williams | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | N/A | N/A | ||
LS(P) | 52 | Phillip Fajgenbaum | 6-1 | 225 | *Gr. | N/A | N/A | H | 18 | Patrick Fish | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. | 2 | 2 | |
75 | Michael Sobeski | 6-2 | 220 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | 5 | Brendan Nosovitch | 6-1 | 220 | Fr. | 3 | 3 | |||
H | 32 | Corbin Jenkins | 5-10 | 175 | *Jr. | N/A | N/A | PR | 27 | Victor Hampton | 5-10 | 202 | Jr. | 3 | 4 | |
92 | Bradley Pinion | 6-6 | 230 | So. | 3 | 3 | 11 | Pharoh Cooper | 5-11 | 184 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | |||
PR | 13 | Adam Humphries | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | 3 | 2 | KOR | 11 | Pharoh Cooper | 5-11 | 184 | Fr. | 3 | 4 | |
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | 23 | Bruce Ellington | 5-9 | 196 | Jr. | 2 | N/A | |||
KOR | 2 | Sammy Watkins | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
& | 82 | T.J. Green | 6-3 | 195 | Fr. | 3 | 2 | |||||||||
5 | Germone Hopper | 6-0 | 180 | *Fr. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
& | 1 | Martavis Bryant | 6-5 | 200 | Jr. | 4 | 4 |