Substitutes for a Superstar

By MikeBullock  |   Thursday, July 29, 2010  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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When C.J. Spiller raced off for NFL fortune and glory, it was a mixed moment for the Clemson Tigers. On the one hand, the team proudly bid adieu to the All-American who dazzled teammates, coaches and fans with his amazing exploits on the field. On the other hand, they knew the time to replace him was now.

Senior defensive back Marcus Gilchrist is happily stepping into the role of return man, hoping he can make everyone forget about Spiller in short order. Second year head coach Dabo Sweeney thinks he just might.

"I'll tell you what: Nobody's happier for C.J. Spiller to be gone than Marcus Gilchrist,” said Sweeny. “Because he's hopefully going to be our answer in the return game. He's going to get an opportunity to return punts and kicks. He's excited about that, and he's worked hard. He's done it a little bit in his career, and he's had some success. But he's always been stuck backing up C.J. and Jacoby."

Gilchrist, the team’s leading tackler, has become a nightmare for opposing offenses. The senior from High Point can play corner, nickel or safety with equal skill and rarely misfires when the action comes his way. Between Gilchrist and “Mack Truck in a Jersey” DeAndre McDaniels (a preseason All-ACC player), any ball carrier trying to make ground on Clemson’s secondary in 2010 will have to think twice before picking a lane.

Now, with the departure of Spiller and Jacoby Ford, Gilchrist’ll unleash that fire and versatility on opposing special teams units, ones already proven capable of giving up big plays when Clemson fields a kick.

When it comes to the running game, sophomore tailback Andre Ellington is running fast to get out of Spiller’s shadow. Ellington possesses incredible quickness, acceleration and vision, all of which add to the potential this young man has to be one of Clemson’s greatest running backs in recent memory, if ever. Voted “Most Improved Player” during training camp a season ago, the sky really is the limit for Ellington, who has yet to come close to his full potential. While he doesn’t have the sheer top-end speed that Spiller took to the NFL, Ellington might just have more potential than Spiller did in his sophomore year, which is something that bodes well for Tiger fans.

Many will miss watching the ever electric C.J. Spiller dance through defenses, but if Marcus Gilchrist and Andre Ellington have anything to say about it, the offensive and special team’s production will roll on like nothing has changed. All that means it’s a great time to be a Tiger fan and 2010 is shaping up to be an exciting time to watch Tiger football.
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