10 Preseason Camp Comments
By: Roy Philpott
10. I'll be the first to admit I believe Cullen Harper will be the starting quarterback when Clemson takes the field against Florida State on Sept. 3. I'll also be the first to admit I think Willy Korn will play in the first half of that very same game. However, I was somewhat surprised to learn that the only jerseys that could be purchased in downtown Clemson this past weekend were replicas of James Davis, C.J. Spiller and ... you guessed it, Willy Korn. Where's the love for Cullen?
9. Watching the team exit from practice the past two days, it's easy to see there is a sense of excitement among the players. Of course, they haven't put on pads yet either. It's always easy to interview with a defensive lineman or a linebacker after the first two days of preseason camp. However it's not so easy during two-a-days.
8. The freshmen look anything like freshmen. Talk to anybody "inside" the program. Talk to the players. Talk to Tommy Bowden. All of them will tell you the incoming freshman class looks like a bunch of sophomores and juniors. These kids have been in the weight room and they all have benefited from being in Joey Batson's strength program during the second summer session.
7. Say what you want, but we haven't truly learned an extensive amount of NEW information after the first two practice sessions. In fact, the only thing we've learned is five walk-ons have been awarded scholarships, special teams have been an early emphasis and it's HOT. Without the pads, there's only so much you can accomplish.
6. James Davis is a leader. Watch him walk on the field. Watch him leave the field. He's always one of the most animated players on the team. But unlike others, people listen to J.D.
5. The freshmen defensive linemen - particularly Miguel Chavis, Rennie Moore and Jarvis Jenkins look like they could play TODAY. I'm not saying they will, I'm just saying - from a physical perspective, these kids look downright mean.
4. Mark Buchholz will kick, Richard Jackson will punt. Call it an early hunch, but some of the returns coming out of the first two practices suggest this could be who we see handling the Tigers kicking situation on Sept. 3. Still a long ways to go, obviously.
3. Clay will be ready. Watching Antonio Clay talk Saturday afternoon leaves me to believe he'll be ready Sept. 3. He's already lost close to 20 pounds since reporting back to school and it won't take much longer for him to get back into "football shape."
2. Talking to more players over the last two days, it seems as though the guys are somewhat embarrassed with how last year ended. It would be an understatement to write this team is ready to put last year behind it.
1. The most important aspect of the first two practices thus far has to be no injuries. Knock on wood, but so far so good on the injury front.
10. I'll be the first to admit I believe Cullen Harper will be the starting quarterback when Clemson takes the field against Florida State on Sept. 3. I'll also be the first to admit I think Willy Korn will play in the first half of that very same game. However, I was somewhat surprised to learn that the only jerseys that could be purchased in downtown Clemson this past weekend were replicas of James Davis, C.J. Spiller and ... you guessed it, Willy Korn. Where's the love for Cullen?
9. Watching the team exit from practice the past two days, it's easy to see there is a sense of excitement among the players. Of course, they haven't put on pads yet either. It's always easy to interview with a defensive lineman or a linebacker after the first two days of preseason camp. However it's not so easy during two-a-days.
8. The freshmen look anything like freshmen. Talk to anybody "inside" the program. Talk to the players. Talk to Tommy Bowden. All of them will tell you the incoming freshman class looks like a bunch of sophomores and juniors. These kids have been in the weight room and they all have benefited from being in Joey Batson's strength program during the second summer session.
7. Say what you want, but we haven't truly learned an extensive amount of NEW information after the first two practice sessions. In fact, the only thing we've learned is five walk-ons have been awarded scholarships, special teams have been an early emphasis and it's HOT. Without the pads, there's only so much you can accomplish.
6. James Davis is a leader. Watch him walk on the field. Watch him leave the field. He's always one of the most animated players on the team. But unlike others, people listen to J.D.
5. The freshmen defensive linemen - particularly Miguel Chavis, Rennie Moore and Jarvis Jenkins look like they could play TODAY. I'm not saying they will, I'm just saying - from a physical perspective, these kids look downright mean.
4. Mark Buchholz will kick, Richard Jackson will punt. Call it an early hunch, but some of the returns coming out of the first two practices suggest this could be who we see handling the Tigers kicking situation on Sept. 3. Still a long ways to go, obviously.
3. Clay will be ready. Watching Antonio Clay talk Saturday afternoon leaves me to believe he'll be ready Sept. 3. He's already lost close to 20 pounds since reporting back to school and it won't take much longer for him to get back into "football shape."
2. Talking to more players over the last two days, it seems as though the guys are somewhat embarrassed with how last year ended. It would be an understatement to write this team is ready to put last year behind it.
1. The most important aspect of the first two practices thus far has to be no injuries. Knock on wood, but so far so good on the injury front.
posted by Roy Philpott @ 3:07 PM
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