2008 Orange/White Spring Game preview

By Marc Hudgens  |   Sunday, April 06, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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This upcoming Saturday, April 12, Clemson's annual Orange/White Spring Game will take place. It will arguably be one of the more anticipated spring games in recent years.

WHAT TO WATCH

Offensive line: In a tight race against the linebacker position, we'll have to give the big uglies the slight edge as the most-watched squad. For the second consecutive year, the Tiger line returns only one starter from the previous year. Two of the four losses were All-ACC players, so there is a huge dropoff. To see if the five men show signs of gelling will be a top priority.

The way it looks now sophomore Chris Hairston and junior Cory Lambert, who have had very good springs according to head coach Tommy Bowden, appear to have secured starting spots at the tackles. Juniors Jamarcus Grant and Barry Humphries will be filling the guard slots and Thomas Austin, the lone returning starter, will be snapping.

Jock McKissic, a defensive tackle the past three years, will be Lambert's backup while freshman Landon Walker will be behind Hairston. These two, along with guard David Smith and center Mason Cloy, will be watched to gauge quality of depth.

Linebacker: Like the offensive line, the linebacker group enters 2008 depleted as the eligibilities of Tremaine Billie and Nick Watkins ran out and Cortney Vincent, who would have been a returning starter, has been suspended from spring practice and is at risk of being kicked off the team due to off-field problems. And no one knows for certain if Antonio Clay will ever return.

Senior Josh Miller has secured the MLB starting spot for now, as freshman Brandon Maye is hot on his heels. Junior Kavell Connor will be first-team WLB with junior Jeremy Campbell and freshman Buster Hunter behind him. Sophomore Scotty Cooper appears to have secured the SLB spot, and he will be watched to see how the former highly-rated high school prospect fares.

This position is very much up in the air, especially at middle and weakside, and has reportedly given up a ton of big plays. Giving up the biggies may not be corrected by Saturday, but chances are it will be by the Tigers' season premiere against Alabama.

Quarterback: Let's not assume senior Cullen Harper will automatically be better than last season although the chances of that are high. Sure, he definitely is the guy to beat, but given his shoulder surgery back in January it will be interesting to see if his arm is better or if there are some lingering effects. The guy's tough as nails; after all he was sacked countless times last year and still performed. The deep ball will be a tell. And let's not forget about backup Willy Korn, the much-heralded recruit Clemson landed a year ago. Like Harper, Korn had shoulder issues so we'll get to see if he's worked that out.

Many have prognosticated Clemson as the ACC-Atlantic champ this upcoming season with all the returning starters the team will enjoy. However the few losses the Tigers endure will deplete entire positions (offensive line, linebacker), making those positions the weak links. Obviously this Orange/White game will be a glimpse of what to expect from those positions come fall.
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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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