Clemson must sign top linebackers in 2009

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, March 24, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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Almost as precarious a situation as the offensive line is the linebacker position at Clemson.

After last season the Tigers lost two starters, as the eligibilities of seniors Nick Watkins, the team's leading tackler, and Tremaine Billie ran out. The third starter, Cortney Vincent, may not return to the team after a violation of team rules and a DUI arrest from back in December. Vincent, who has been suspended from spring practice, would have been the senior leadership at that position assuming he does not return in autumn. And no one knows if Antonio Clay, who withdrew from the university for personal reasons, will return.

If one wanted to argue that Clemson's losses at linebacker are worse than at offensive line, they could make a strong case for it.

Because of this, head coach Tommy Bowden and his staff moved wide receiver Rendrick Taylor, who is 6-foot-1 and 235-pounds, to linebacker before spring practice began. Another idea for the upcoming season is to move senior fullback Alex Pearson to linebacker. Pearson. 6-foot-2 and 240-pounds, played linebacker in high school, so he would bring some experience to the position. Also expect incoming freshmen Tarik Rollins, Jonathan Willard, and/or Stanley Hunter to get playing time due to the urgency of the position.

That may be all good for next season. But what after that?

After scouring various message boards over the past few years, some fans believe the Tigers simply have never had the necessary linebacker talent to compete. But judging who's on Clemson's radar in next year's recruiting class, that may change.

As far as the highly-rated high school prospects that has Clemson on their list, it appears several stand out. Andalusia, Alabama's Nico Johnson, who Scout rates as the No. 2 MLB in the nation, tops the list. After Johnson is Eric Fields of Warner Robins, Georgia (No. 19 MLB) and Tucker, Georgia's Jonathan Davis (No. 8 MLB). Strongside the Tigers are looking at Jarvis Jones, No. 2 SLB out of Columbus, Georgia, and Tana Patrick, No. 3 SLB out of Stevenson, Alabama. At weakside you're looking at Damario Jeffrey, No. 4 WLB out of Columbia, South Carolina. It is believed at this point that Clemson is strongly in the running for Fields and Jones. Johnson has a ton of schools after him (Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and USC to name a few), so Clemson will face stiff competition in the living room.

Others that may be of interest to Clemson but are currently not on the Tigers' list include Eddie Braun (6-foot-1, 235-pounds, 4.6 forty), ILB from Waynesville, North Carolina; Willie Ferrell (6-foot-1, 219-pounds), OLB from Tallahassee, Florida; and Frankie Telfort (5-foot-11, 195-pounds, 4.5 forty), OLB from Miami. Major schools are looking hard at one or more of these young men, such as USC, LSU, Ohio State, and so forth, so there is something there of worth. Given these players are in Clemson's traditional recruiting area, recruiting coordinator Billy Napier may want to take a look and see what the hub-bub is about.

Sure, 2009 is a very long time from now, and anything could change between now and then. But for Clemson's linebacker squad to really become something special, the team must land at least two highly-rated players, the aforementioned or otherwise, in 2009.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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