EARLY BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007
CLEMSON TIGERS
OFFENSE - 8
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 9
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Barry Richardson-OT, Chris McDuffie-OG, Brandon Pilgrim-OG, Christian Capote-OT
DEFENSE: Tramaine Billie-SLB, Nick Watkins-WLB
Offensive Backfield / Defensive Line

Clemson has strength at almost every unit. Harper, Davis and Spiller make this offensive backfield extremely balanced. The veteran DL returns everyone responsible for helping the Tigers finish No.6 in total defense.

Offensive Line / Linebacker

The key for Tommy Bowden will be how well his OL matures after losing two All-ACC performers. The LBs also lose tackling machines Billie and Watkins.

QB Cullen Harper
 
DB Michael Hamlin
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
CLEMSON 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Cullen Harper-Sr Willy Korn-So
RB James Davis-Sr Alex Pearson-Sr (FB)
RB C.J. Spiller-Jr Sadat Chambers-Jr
WR Aaron Kelly-Sr Jacoby Ford-Jr
WR Tyler Grisham-Sr Rendrick Taylor-Sr
TE Michael Palmer-Jr Brian Linthicum-So
OT Cory Lambert-Jr ..
OG Bobby Hutchinson-Sr ..
C Thomas Austin-Jr ..
OG Barry Humphries-Jr ..
OT Chris Hairston-So ..
K Mark Buchholz-Sr ..
 
CLEMSON 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Phillip Merling-Sr Kevin Alexander-Jr
NG Dorell Scott-Sr ..
DT Rashaad Jackson-Sr Jamie Cumbie-Jr
DE Ricky Sapp-Jr Kourtnei Brown-So
SLB Scotty Cooper-So ..
MLB Cortney Vincent-Sr Antonio Clay-Sr
WLB Kavell Conner-Jr ..
CB Chris Chancellor-Jr Marcus Gilchrist-So
CB Crezdon Butler-Jr Byron Maxwell-So
CAT Michael Hamlin-Sr DeAndre McDaniel-So
FS Chris Clemons-Sr ..
P Jimmy Maners-Sr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

Head coach Tommy Bowden has never fared well with lofty expectations. His Clemson teams seem to do their best work when playing the underdog role. That’s bad news for the Tigers since they are primed for a big season and are sure to be the ACC Atlantic Division favorite heading into 2008. Several reasons exist for such expectations, the first being the rise of Cullen Harper at QB. NationalChamps.net was not even sure if Harper would be the starter last preseason, yet in the end, he wound up being better than anyone could have imagined while making All-ACC Second Team. His 27-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, as with most of his numbers, was better than that of ACC Player of The Year Matt Ryan. All of the receivers are back, led by All-ACC pass catcher Aaron Kelly. The thunder/lightning RB duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller is also back for another season…assuming Davis does not skip his senior season and head off to the NFL. Their '07 output was not quite as spectacular as in their previous campaign, but they represent a huge asset. They will need these two in order to prove such a high ranking worthy, as the OL is a huge question mark due to the graduation of a few key blockers. For all of these offensive names, their balanced defense is what carried Clemson statistically. The nation's 20th-ranked run stoppers and No.13 pass defenders return nine starters and are loaded with experienced upperclassmen. Being ranked this highly this early is sure to raise a few eyebrows. The bottom line...Clemson finished ranked 15th in the final regular season BCS poll; they return all of their skill positions on offense, including a top rated QB directing the show; and they have a huge group of veterans coming back to a defense that ranked top 15 in most major statistical categories. Tommy Bowden has one huge question mark...can he find suitable replacements to patch holes on the OL? If he does, Clemson is going to do more than just knock on the league championship door in 2008…they may finally kick it down.

 

CLEMSON
2008 SCHEDULE

9-20 at Louisiana Tech @Shreveport, LA
11-29 SOUTH CAROLINA
UCF
THE CITADEL
MARYLAND
at Wake Forest
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
at Florida State
at Boston College
at Virginia
at Georgia Tech
DUKE