It's another Coot hate week! Albeit it is in basketball(which I would say is our least significant rivalry with the Chickens of the the three major sports).
Here are some news and links to get you through this dead period for college football.
Oklahoma Sooners Samaje Perine headlines true freshman All-America team - ESPN
One Clemson Tiger managed to make the freshman All-America team. After a stellar freshman year, Artavis Scott managed to make the cut for the freshman All-America team. Scott proved to be a weapon not just in the passing game but also in the running game. Miami's Brad Kaaya managed to become the first-team true freshman All-American quarterback. While Kaaya is deserving of this honor since he was one of the few bright spots on Al Golden's squad, I'm pretty sure DW4 would've gotten this honor if he managed to stay healthy enough to play in more games this season.
Clemson Basketball vs Auburn Tigers: Rod Hall Shows He Needs to Score
Rod Hall has been on a hot streak the past two games. For Brad Brownell and Co. to be more consistent and win more games this season, Rod Hall is going to have to become and stay more consistent. After all, he plays what is arguably the most important position on the basketball court. Hall is clearly the leader of this team and our basketball team goes as his performance goes. Rod Hall will definitely need to keep up his hot streak to beat the Chickens in Columbia on Friday.
Ex-Clemson QB Chad Kelly tweets he’s landed at Ole Miss | CollegeFootballTalk
An update about an old friend....Looks like Chad 'Swag' Kelly will be competing for the starting quarterback position next year for the Rebels to replace senior Bo Wallace. Hopefully for Chad's sake, he gets his attitude and mindset in order to improve as a quarterback. We all know he had the talent, but his attitude held him back from being successful at Clemson. He could've gotten significant playing time this year if it weren't for his immaturity that got him kicked off the team..
A look at the top 10 2015 Heisman hopefuls in the ACC - ESPN
Not surprised to see DW4 as the top ACC contender for the Heisman next year. If he stays healthy and continues to progress, I think he has a legitimate shot. As Clemson fans/students we are biased but DW4 has Heisman-esque play making ability. With a year under his belt and a chance to get put on weight this offseason to protect from himself from injury next season, DW4 will have a chance to showcase himself as the unquestioned starter and leader of the Tigers' offense with a plethora of play makers at the skill positions next season.
#STRecruiting Bullets: Sherrod Pittman; Paris Palmer; DJ Jones; Clemson baseball
A few South Carolina sports recruiting tidbits. A significant tidbit in this is Paris Palmer, an offensive lineman from Pennsylvania, who was one of the many recruits in the Ole' Ball Coach's 2015 recruiting class to decommit. Palmer flipped to Penn State after uncertainty about Spurrier's long term future in Columbia came to light. Hits continue to come for the Chickens as the Ole' Ball Coach recently made comments hinting that he plans to retire in 2-3 years. Those comments alone have put a huge cloud over recruiting for the Gamecocks for the next few years. While he is held in disdain by many Clemson fans for his lack of class, the Ole' Ball Coach has done things no other coach at South Carolina has done and has by far been the best coach they have every have. The last four years have been their peak years but with uncertainty about Spurrier's future, the Gamecocks' football program will continue to go downhill after this year's debacle until the Ole' Ball Coach decides to hang up the headsets.
Another significant tidbit from this is another commitment for the 2016 recruiting class for the Clemson Baseball program. Upstate outfielder Chris Thompson picked Clemson over powerhouse programs Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Another significant commitment for Jack Leggett and Co. for the 2016 class not mentioned in this article is RHP/3B Blake Holliday out of Belton, South Carolina. Holliday is currently ranked at 302 nationally on Perfect Game as well as being ranked as the top third baseman in South Carolina. Still unclear what position Holliday will play at Clemson as he offers a lot of potential at both third base and on the mound. I personally think he will be more valuable to Jack Leggett as a third baseman. Coaches Leggett, Lecroy, and Pepicelli now have 7 commits for the 2016 recruiting class after putting together a top 10 recruiting class for 2015. But like I've mentioned before, we won't now how those recruiting classes will finish ranked at the end depending on who actually makes it to campus and who decides to go pro.