Don’t be surprised if Clemson’s Thomas gets playing time

By Robert Rousseau  |   Thursday, July 02, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Clemson Tigers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

With offensive tackles Chris Hairston and Landon Walker coming back, the Clemson Tigers would seemingly be set up for a good year at a very important position. But if you look closely enough, you'll come to realize that only seniors Corey Lambert and Jamarcus Grant are listed as backups, and that Lambert is currently a reserve at both tackle positions. In other words, depth is lacking; and let's face it, linemen do tend to deal with injuries throughout the season.

Thus, the Tigers need some more depth. Enter freshman Brandon Thomas.

At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, Thomas has the build to put on weight -- even if he might be a little light to be an ACC starter right now. That said, the thing that has the Tigers fired up about him is not his size; rather, it's his athleticism. After all, this former four-star prospect boasts 4.7 speed in the 40. He played some tight end while at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C., so he's used to using his athleticism on the field. Word is that he comes out of his stance quickly, knows how to make that initial, jarring hit, and can hurt people downfield. Sure, he needs to stay low on his blocks, but that can be worked on.

He seems like the real deal.

In the end, there's a reason why Thomas was considered both the second-most athletic tackle in the 2009 class and the second-most agile -- he is. He has the kind of talent to make some waves in his first season with Clemson, even if he's unlikely to get any starting time unless something strange happens (remember that he might also be able to play guard). Expect Thomas to impress early and make a run at a starting position in 2010. He should be a good one.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (1)

About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report