As Clemson hits the mid way point of 2018 fall football training camp. Acclimating new players to life in college and the day to day rigors of practice and team meetings are just a small part of the day to day scheme in place for these student-athletes. All the while preparing for the upcoming seasons schedule of ACC and power 5 foes as Clemson expects to be on another path to win the ACC conference title, and return to the College Football Playoff for a fourth Consecutive season.
This also gives the staff a chance during the fall camp period at getting a good idea of what the roster and it’s potential depth will eventually look like in the first week of September versus Furman.
A big part of this evaluation process will be sifting through the newest batch of Tigers as the 2018 Freshman class is already beginning to make a name for itself playing time wise at more than one position group.
Of course everyone is aware of the ongoing battle at QB between incumbent starter Kelly Bryant and January enrollee and freshman phenom Trevor Lawrence.
The well documented and ongoing battle is one that is being played out in the media, and has been all the discussion on talk radio and amongst fans. Lawrence came in way head of the “curve” and has shown his skill set is everything it was hyped up to be. As the former #1 Over all player in the nation has a lot of expectations to live up to if you have followed this young man from Cartersville, Goergia to Clemson back in January.
And over the past 6 months since his arrival in January, Trevor has really impressed the staff with his maturity and ability to pick up the offense and work with in it. Already physically holding the tools coming in as a freshman, Lawrence has continued his development in this area with the strength and conditioning staff.
Thus, Lawrence has been mentioned many times by the staff and coach Dabo Swinney as heading towards substantial playing time this season. How much playing time is what is yet to be determined. But the young gunslinger will be on the field against Furman in the opener this you can count on.
But, there are others in this class that are making waves of their own in regards to avoiding a red shirt and gaining playing time here in 2018. Players like Justyn Ross, Jackson Carman, Derion Kendrick, KJ Henry, and Xavier Thomas to name a few. These highly regarded 2018 classmates are all expected to contribute to the 2 and 3 deep reserves.
With the departure of Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud to the NFL, this gives a player like Ross, who arrived on campus in mid July a chance to find a spot in the wide receiver rotation. Justyn, who also showed up at 6’3 and 207 pounds, has made a strong case in a very short period of time he deserves to see the field this season.
He has competed at gotten results in scrimmage situations, and with his advanced physical presence has him trending towards a lot of playing time at the boundary WR position. A position that is already being held by first year starter Tee Higgins.
Expect to see a lot of Ross early in the season as the Tigers and coach Jeff Scott will test the Yellow Hammer state native to see if indeed he is ready to avoid a red shirt here in 2018.
Another newcomer to “WRU” is in state native Derion Kendrick, a player that has been on campus since January. And in that time has acclimated himself to the position he was not previously familiar with. Kendrick came out of Rock Hill, SC . . . were he played quarterback at South Pointe HS.
With Derion, it is his “ball skills” and “competitive nature” that have been pointed to by this coaching staff all spring and summer. And add to that his ability to get up field with the ball after a catch have this young gun trending towards a lot of Playing time.
He is taking a lot of reps in the return game at both Punt and Kickoff returner and is expected to see significant snaps in the “Slot” WR position that is currently held by Amari Rodgers who himself is replacing the recently departed Ray Ray McCloud.
Justyn Ross
Derion Kendrick
Next up is the Tight End position, as the Tigers have been looking for a field stretching, defensive miss-match, type of tight end ever since the departure of Jordan Leggett left to join the NFL two years ago. And with a player like Braden Galloway, the 6’4″ 240 pound freshman out of near by Seneca, SC the staff may have found just what the doctor ordered.
A High school Quarterback at Seneca , Braden has trained very hard with an very well known local trainer (Bobby McGowens of Elite Position Training) and has really gotten himself to the point of seeing the field. First he had to overcome a foot injury sustained during his senior season, and then transform his body and add muscle and weight to his frame. And at the same time acclimate to the day to day of being and college student athlete.
Spring game, and fall camp has the staff discussing Galloway, as a player that is going to potentially avoid a red shirt, and giving the offense another weapon, who creates a mis-match to run out there all over the field from tight to slot to boundary.
Braden Galloway TE
13 KJ Henry and 3 Xavier Thomas
Now let’s talk about not one but the two five star defensive ends that have been on campus since January. Xavier Thomas and KJ Henry have lived up to the hype so far in camp, both spring and fall . Each of these two took to the weight room right away. And it has specifically helped Henry who has added 25 pounds since arriving on campus.
Henry who is now up to 240 pounds at 6’4″. Henry, is very athletic and bends very well and showed at the Nike Opening series last year as a recruit, though under sized for his position, he was able to dominate much larger offensive lineman all day . And word out of camp this year is that Henry is “just as advertised”. a speedy edge rusher with great technique and the ability to shed blocks and get around much larger offensive line men.
Xavier Thomas just may be one of the biggest break out players of this 2018 class, as his ceiling just continues to being raised. With the fastest first step for a defensive end we have seen in our seven plus years of scouting and recruiting coverage, Thomas has also gotten substantially larger and is now at 265 pounds.
The Florence, SC native and former #1 player in the nation at his position, has put himself in the three deep as he will back up the ends, but word this past week out of camp, the staff is interested in moving him into the tackle position at times and cross-train him in the mold of a Christian Wilkins. This says a lot about where Thomas stands physically and strength wise for the staff to consider such a move so early in a players career.
And we cannot forget the mammoth big man and December signing day surprise 5 star Jackson Carman, the gentle giant out of the mid west spurned Ohio State and the rest of the college football world when he chose Clemson.
And when it comes to strength and conditioning , Carman is a great story. . . as he has come in since January, put in the work in the weight room and with the team nutritionist planning all his meals, Carman has lost over 40 pounds and totally transformed his body. Just see this video inside this tweet below, showing the agility of this super sized athlete as he “wake boards” across the lake on a day off from football.
This spring and fall the kid from Ohio, has played a lot of left and right tackle as coach Robbie Caldwell likes to “cross train” the players in the offensive line . But this season expect Jackson to get in and play a lot at his natural and future position at left tackle. . . Carman, who was recruited and penciled in as the heir apparent to position after Mitch Hyatt moves on to the NFL after the 2018 season. But only after a season of backing up the All American Hyatt and others to get his feet under him in 2018.
Other names to look for include Lynn J Dixon the speedy running back showed up a lot bigger and physically advanced and has turned heads in scrimmages with long TD runs. Also DB’s Kyler McMicheal and Mario Goodrich, both arriving in the summer and making immediate impact at a position of need depth wise as the season quickly approaches.
Stay tuned all August as camp winds down and we here at C-S-N provide daily coverage from the practice fields and talking with the staff and players when media access is permitted.
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