Injuries continue to plague starters at Clemson

By Stephen Jerdan  |   Thursday, October 05, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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Regardless of a rough patch in the schedule, a double OT loss, and a virtual depletion of the starting linebacker corps, this season didn't get any easier for the Clemson Tigers when shocking news broke following their Oct. 3 afternoon practice.

"Chansi was having a terrific season," said head coach Tommy Bowden, after learning that first team All-ACC wideout Chansi Stuckey suffered a broken foot. "He is such a talented player on the field, and he has had so many momentum changing plays this year."

Stuckey was having a terrific season, indeed. The senior picked up right where he left off last season, when he led the ACC in receptions, by accumulating 25 catches for 331 yards and three touchdowns through the Tigers' first five games this year.

"He is one of our team leaders. It is a very big loss for our team," Bowden went on to say. "I thought we were finished with these injuries."

The Tigers have dealt with a significant amount of bad luck in the injury department this season. Stuckey joins linebackers Tremaine Billie and Anthony Waters, and free safety Michael Hamlin on the list of Clemson starters to go down with a major injury.

Billie, who was slated to start as an outside linebacker, broke his ankle during preseason practice. Waters, a preseason All-ACC candidate, suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the Tigers' first game, versus Florida Atlantic. Hamlin, a freshman All-American last season, was the last to go down, prior to Stuckey's injury, when he sustained a broken foot during the Tigers' second game versus Boston College.

The Tigers, however, are very fortunate, in several unusual ways. The injuries sustained to Billie, Waters and Stuckey have all occurred at the positions that Clemson has the most depth, and the younger players have stepped up and performed beyond expectations.

Antonio Clay, who was already challenging for a starting position prior to Billie's injury, and Maurice Nelson have joined initial starter Nick Watkins at linebacker, and both have made the effects of the Billie and Waters injuries minimal.

At receiver, Stuckey and sophomore Tyler Grisham were joined by sophomores Aaron Kelly and Rendrick Taylor, who have been battling for the starting position all season. Now, Kelly and Taylor, who both have starting experience, will be joined by true freshman Jacoby Ford in the race for Stuckey's replacement.

Countering Stuckey's addition to the list of injuries, however, is Hamlin's return this week to the Tigers when they travel to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest. Hamlin's return will be greatly valued in the Tigers' upcoming schedule - especially when All-American WR Calvin Johnson and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to Death Valley in three weeks.

Although the injuries to the Tigers this season have been to key players in key positions, the younger players, as well as the coaching staff, have done an outstanding job in keeping Clemson's goal for a trip to the ACC Championship Game alive. Despite the continuous injuries to Clemson starters, the Tigers have still shown they are one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation this season.

"I plan to be back at practice and help the receivers and this team do whatever it can do to win at Wake Forest and any other games until I can come back," Stuckey said about his injury. "Injuries are just a part of the game"

So while Stuckey will be missed over the course of the Tigers' next few games, expect senior QB Will Proctor and star tailback James Davis, who is second in the nation with 11 rushing touchdowns, to continue putting up explosive numbers and keep the Tigers in contention for the ACC Atlantic Division crown.

Get original Clemson Tigers coverage at RealFootball365.com
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