An analysis of Clemson’s contribution to the NFL

By Marc Hudgens  |   Wednesday, July 04, 2007  |  Comments( 8 )

Clemson Tigers
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Does Clemson have quality talent? Most definitely. After all, the Tigers often play for the ACC title. But is their talent properly developed along the way for that crucial next level, the NFL?

One major indicator of how good a team develops its players is to look at their pro contributions.

Covering almost half of the 32 NFL teams, the list is:

Chansi Stuckey, rookie receiver, Jets.
Justin Miller, third-year cornerback, Jets.
Trevor Pryce, 11-year defensive end, Ravens.
Nick Eason, fifth-year defensive tackle, Steelers.
Dexter McCleon, 10th-year CB, Texans.
Jamaal Fudge, second-year safety, Jaguars.
Rod Gardner, seventh-year WR, Chiefs.
Bryant McNeal, fourth-year DE, Raiders.
Charlie Whitehurst, second-year quarterback, Chargers.
Anthony Waters, rookie linebacker, Chargers.
Brian Dawkins, 12th-year S, Eagles.
C.J. Gaddis, rookie S, Eagles.
Airese Currie, second-year WR, Bears.
Derrick Hamilton, third-year WR, Falcons.
John Leake, third-year LB, Falcons.
Steven Jackson, second-year fullback, Panthers.
Kevin Youngblood, third-year WR, Panthers.
Charles Bennett, third-year DE, Buccaneers.
Gaines Adams, rookie DE, Buccaneers.
Tye Hill, second-year CB, Rams.
Dustin Fry, rookie center, Rams.
LeRoy Hill, third-year LB, Seahawks.


By-position breakdown:

QB: one.
O-line: one.
FB: one.
WR: five.
D-Line: five.
LBs: three.
Secondary: six.
Special teams: zero.


Current depth-chart placement (no special teams):

First (starter): four.
Second string: five.
Third string: nine.
Unlisted: four.


Experience breakdown:

Rookies: five
One to three years: 11.
Four to six years: two.
Seven to nine years: one.
Over 10 years: three.


On the surface this looks great, but let's go a step further and compare Clemson's gridiron alumni against that of the 2006 BCS teams and their existing contributions:

BCS teams: number of ex-players currently on NFL rosters (offense, defense, ST):

Florida: 45 (22, 23, zero) -- National title team, conference champs.
Ohio State: 56 (24, 30, two) -- National title team, conference champs.
Wake Forest: 11 (five, five, one) -- conference champs.
Louisville: 23 (11, 11, one) -- conference champs.
LSU: 48 (23, 24, one).
Notre Dame: 41 (22, 17, two).
SC: 40 (22, 17, one) -- conference champs.
Michigan: 50 (30, 19, one).
Boise State: 11 (five, six, zero) -- conference champs.
Oklahoma: 32 (12, 20, zero) -- conference champs.
**[Average: 35.7 total (17.6 offense, 17.2 defense, 0.9 ST)].

Clemson's numbers are:

Clemson: 22 (eight, 14, zero).

The Tigers fall very short of all but two BCS teams in total NFL contribution, and those two squads (Wake Forest, Boise State) are new to the big-bowl picture. Clemson is pretty close on defense, but its offense falls far below.

Comparing Clemson to its ACC counterparts, we have:

Miami: 56 (24, 31, one).
Florida State: 48 (21, 25, two).
Virginia Tech: 32 (15, 16, one).
Virginia: 29 (15, 14, zero).
North Carolina: 26 (13, 12, one).
Maryland: 25 (7, 16, two).
Boston College: 24 (16, eight, zero).
North Carolina State: 24 (nine, 15, zero).
Clemson: 22 (eight, 14, zero).
Georgia Tech: 19 (eight, 11, zero).
Wake Forest: 11 (five, five, one).
Duke: five (four, one, zero).
[Average: 26.8 total (12.1 offense, 14.0 defense, 0.67 ST)].

Clemson versus its arch-rival:

Clemson: 22 (eight, 14, zero).
South Carolina: 24 (nine, 15, zero).

From this, the Tigers are below the ACC average and marginally below South Carolina.

Looking at the numbers, Clemson's NFL reputation appears to be more defensive-based than offensive, and it's pretty decent when compared to other schools' defensive contributions. The program's past contributions are especially notable -- Levon Kirkland, Chester McGlockton, Jeff Davis, Michael Dean Perry, William 'The Refrigerator' Perry, Trevor Pryce and Brian Dawkins). But to really mix it up with the others, Clemson needs to seriously develop offensive talent.

The only elite QB the Tigers have ever sent to the NFL was Steve Fuller. The Enid, Okla., native was picked in the first round (23rd overall) in the 1979 draft by Kansas City, and he went on to be the backup QB to punk-rocking Jim McMahon on the Bears' Super Bowl XX team.

But the one player who truly succeeded more than any other was Dwight Clark, a standout for the 49ers between 1979-1987. To exemplify how good he was, in '79 San Francisco's head coach, Bill Walsh, went to Clemson to scout Fuller, but he ended up leaving that day much more impressed with Clark.

Outside of the Super Bowl ring-wearing Clark and Fuller, as well as ex-Tiger receiver Jerry Butler (Buffalo Bills), there never have been many truly successful offensive NFL players, and history backs that up.

-Rod Gardner: second-string Chiefs receiver who had virtually no stats last season and has bounced around with four teams in his young career.
-Corey Hulsey: former second-string Raiders offensive guard who was virtually nonexistent, and he's now no longer on any roster.
-Steven Jackson: Panthers FB who didn't play at all last year.
-Airese Curry: an injured Chicago Bears receiver; therefore, not even on the depth chart.
-Charlie Waters: standout receiver from decades past who went on to great success with the Cowboys, but as a safety.
-Charlie Whitehurst: third-string on the Chargers' QB depth chart behind Philip Rivers and Billy Volek. That said, he hasn't been given much of a chance, but if Whitehurst does get an opportunity, he should succeed.

Clemson's current two-headed running attack of James Davis and C.J. Spiller are unquestionably NFL-bound. But the real question is, Will they succeed when they get there? Nothing against their talent -- they're two of the very best backs in all of college football. But will that translate into them becoming great pros?

Now, is it the coaches' job to prepare players for the NFL? It's definitely not their primary goal; it's to win games or, if that's already a lock, to win championships. But developing talent to a higher level as a general rule is indeed part of their job, and a player's NFL success or failure is one reliable indicator of whether he was developed properly in college.

Although getting drafted is a major talent indicator, it's still just one step. Clemson had more players drafted by NFL teams this past April (five) than before current head coach Tommy Bowden came, and that's a huge credit to him. But it's what's done afterward that may indicate true development.

Original Clemson Tigers insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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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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