EyeOnTheTigers

Tajh Boyd Named ACC Player of the Week

2011-09-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

Clemson QB Tajh Boyd

  Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has been named ACC Player of the Week by rivals.com for games of Sept. 3.

  The website chooses one player from each conference each week. Boyd threw 3 touchdown passes and completed 20-30 for 264 yards against Troy. This was the second greatest passing performance by a Clemson QB in his first start in Clemson history. (Former Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst threw for 420 yards in his first start at Duke in 2002.)

  Boyd completed only 3 of his first 9 passes for 65 yards in a tough first half Saturday. But, he then led Clemson in a come-from-behind win completing 14-18 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half. At one point, Tajh connected on 13 straight passes and had a rating of 204 in the second half.

  Boyd's touchdown throw, a 33-yarder to true freshman Sammy Watkins, was his first completion of the game. His 54 yard touchdown pass to TE Dwayne Allen sparked the Tigers in the second half and turned the momentum back in the favor of the Tigers. Then on the next drive, he completed 9 straight passes with the last one being a 7 yard laser to Jaron Brown in the endzone.

  Below are a list of Players of the Week from each conference. Clemson takes on the Wofford Terriers this weekend at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3 in Death Valley.

Rivals.com Conference Players of the Week:
(Games of September 3, 2011)
ACC: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Big East: Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
Big Ten: Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
Conference USA: Case Keenum, Houston
MAC: Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois
Mountain West: Kellen Moore, Boise State
Pac-12: Robert Woods, USC
SEC: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Sun Belt: T.Y. Hilton, FIU
WAC: Bryant Moniz, Hawaii
Independents, Kriss Proctor, Navy

The Spark Returns!

2011-09-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Sammy Watkins eludes a tackler on his first

catch of his Clemson career!

I wrote an article earlier during the offseason that sparks would fly in Death Valley again this year. Enter Sammy Watkins, Mike Bellamy, Martavis Bryant, and Stephone Anthony! Check out videos of their big plays that sparked the Tigers to a blowout victory!

Mike Bellamy 75 yd TD

Sammy Watkins 33 yd TD on first catch of his career

Martavis Bryant 54 yd catch

Stephone Anthony first sack of his career

The Future Is Now

2011-09-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Troy 19
(0-1, 0-1 away)
Clemson 43
(1-0, 1-0 home)

The Tigers opened the season against the Troy Trojans with a bang winning 43-19. Sammy Watkins set a freshman record for the earliest score by a true freshman in Clemson history.

The Tigers weren't done setting records as Mike Bellamy sprinted 75 yards for a score with 11 minutes left in the 4th Quarter. That was the longest first carry by a freshman in Clemson history. Chandler Catanzaro was 3-3 on field goal attempts. Each kick was straight down the middle and had distances of 46, 46, and 45 yards. All was not hunky dory for Dabo Swinney's Tigers though. The Tigers opened on fire as Tajh Boyd hooked up with Sammy Watkins for a 33 yd touchdown pass on the first drive. That would be the last time the Tigers looked like they were on the same page for the rest of the first half. They took a lackluster performance into halftime to the chorus of boos raining down in Death Valley losing 16-13 to Troy. The offensive line was horrible as Boyd was pressured on every down. The Tigers wouldn't convert a third down until midway through the third quarter going 0-9. The defense also seemed suspect and out of place for most of the first half. Clemson's offense finally seemed to catch some fire as Boyd hooked up with Dwayne Allen for a 54 yard touchdown pass. On the next drive, Boyd looked good again as he threaded the needle on a short touchdown pass to Jaron Brown. Boyd had a good day overall finishing 20-30 for 264 yards with 3 touchdowns to 1 interception. There is definitely a lot to work on and it will be a good test of this defense next week against the Wofford Terriers. A lot of freshman played today as Stephone Anthony got his first sack in the first half. Tavaris Barnes, DeShawn Williams, and Grady Jarrett all got valuable playing time throughout the game. The secondary got a lot of players involved as well. Robert Smith recorded his first interception late in the 4th quarter. Overall, it was a scare early in the first half, but impressive offensively in the second half. The defense seemed suspect early last year too and picked up steam as they played each game. I was still more impressed overall with this performance than I was a year ago against North Texas. There are playmakers on this team and we will win some games this year because of that fact. Below are some notable stats from today.

Clemson Passing
	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
T. Boyd	20/30	264	8.8	3	1
C. Stoudt	1/1	7	7.0	0	0
Team	21/31	271	8.7	3	1

Clemson Rushing
	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
A. Ellington	18	89	4.9	0	26
M. Bellamy	3	81	27.0	1	75
D. Howard	4	29	7.3	1	21
S. Watkins	2	5	2.5	0	14
T. Boyd	11	-7	-0.6	0	5
Team	38	197	5.2	2	75

Clemson Receiving
	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
S. Watkins	7	81	11.6	1	33
D. Allen	1	54	54.0	1	54
M. Bryant	1	54	54.0	0	54
D. Hopkins	4	35	8.8	0	13
J. Brown	3	26	8.7	1	19
A. Ellington	3	7	2.3	0	4
A. Humphries	1	7	7.0	0	7
B. Ford	1	7	7.0	0	7
Team	21	271	12.9	3	54

Clemson Interceptions
	INT	YDS	TD
R. Smith	1	0	0
Team	0	0	0

Clemson Kick Returns
	NO	YDS	AVG	LG
M. Bellamy	3	58	19.3	39
J. Meeks	1	39	39.0	39
A. Ellington	1	22	22.0	22
Team	4	80	20.0	39

Clemson Punt Returns
	NO	YDS	AVG	LG
S. Watkins	1	12	12.0	12
D. Hopkins	1	5	5.0	5
Team	2	17	8.5	12

Clemson Kicking
	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
C. Catanzaro	3/3	100.0	46	4/5	13
Team	3/3	100.0	46	4/5	13

Clemson Punting
	TOT	YDS	AVG	TB	-20	LG
D. Zimmerman	6	255	42.5	0	2	51
Team	6	255	42.5	0	2	51

Fan Appreciation Day

2011-08-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

Clemson will hold its annual Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, August 21 at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

Coach Swinney and the whole team will be available for signings beginning at 4:30 pm. The session will last for two hours. No one will be allowed inside the gates prior to 4:30 pm.

Per clemsontigers.com

CLEMSON, SC - Clemson will hold its annual Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, August 21 at Clemson Memorial Stadium. All Clemson players and Coach Swinney will be available for autographs beginning at 4:30 p.m. The session will last for two hours. No one will be allowed inside the stadium prior to 4:30 p.m.
Fans will be allowed to enter through Gates 1, 5, 9 and 13. T-shirts will be available for the first 1,000 fans 12 years of age or younger who enter through Gate 5. Media guides and football game tickets will be on sale at the Clemson Athletic Ticket Office from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Season posters will also be available at Gate 5. The IPTAY Office will be open for those having questions concerning their donation or parking from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Clemson players will be positioned on the concourse level throughout the stadium.

Enter Gate 1 or 13 for the offensive players.

Enter Gate 1 for Tajh Boyd and Andre Ellington, who will be located in the South elevator area.

Enter Gate 5 or 9 for the defensive players.

Enter Gate 9 for the mascots.

Enter Gate 13 for Coach Swinney, who will be in the West Endzone.

Lines for the selected players will be cut off at 5:30 p.m., even though these players will continue to sign autographs until 6:30 p.m. It is important for fans to realize that it is very difficult to get all of their favorite players' autographs or pictures in the two-hour limit.
*Due to the large turnout expected, there will be a one autograph per player limit. This will assist in allowing more fans to meet as many players as possible during the event. Thank you for your help with this policy.*
2011 Fan Appreciation Day Diagram

Come out and show your support for our Clemson Tigers!

Tigers Land 6'8" Power Forward

2011-08-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

PF Josh Smith

Coach Brad Brownell has secured a verbal commitment for the class of 2012. PF Josh Smith (6-8 250) from Olympic HS (Charlotte, NC) is the No. 47 center in the nation according to ESPN. Smith joins PG Jordan Roper and PF Jaron Blossomgame for the class of 2012. As a junior at Olympic, Smith averaged 12 points per game. His recruiter is Clemson assistant coach Earl Grant.

The Kicking Issue

2011-08-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

For a few years now, when Clemson reaches a 4^th down, you would almost wish they would just go for it every time. Clemson’s kicking recently from Jackson, Benton, and Catanzaro has been underwhelming to say the least. Jackson could not hold off the walk-on Catanzaro last year during camp and Chandler won the job. However, like one may have expected from a walk-on freshman, Catanzaro struggled and only came away with a 14/22 year. This is especially tough to take when you look back at games such as Auburn, BC, and FSU. Having two missed field goals in the BC and FSU games are completely unacceptable when those games were decided by six points or less and would have most likely resulted in an Atlantic Division title had the ball gone through the uprights. He may be pushed by Lakip in camp and as the season nears but the odds are highly in Chandler’s favor to come away with the job for now. He was awarded with a scholarship this offseason as the departure of Tyler Fowler freed one up for use. Word has been that he has worked with former Falcons kicker Morten Andersen and tweaked his kicking technique. This is one of those things we will have to see in a game before we are sure of any real change. Expect Lakip to jog on the field at the first stretch of trouble for Catman.

Benton will handle kickoffs and will most likely not challenge in the PK competition. Benton has done just fine in that department and we hope to see continued success this season. However, Benton is taking up a scholarship as well. That is the major problem in this whole situation as Benton, Catanzaro, Lakip, and Zimmerman are all on scholarship with one tied to Bradley Pinion for next year (most likely just be Punter). That is 4 schollys that are being used up for a group that can’t put the ball through the uprights. While I applaud Dabo’s initiative to offer Lakip last cycle to try and remedy this problem, one of the 3 PK’s really needs to become reliable. It is not a good precedent for a team that has a penchant for close games to have poor kicking. For Clemson to see more wins this year, Chandler MUST perform better. While he won’t be a Lou Groza Award winner, I believe Chandler will kick better with experience and offseason work on his side. Hopefully, this will result in less cursing at the television and in the stands.

As a side note, punting was not mentioned in this post because frankly, there is not much to say on the topic. We have one of the best punters in the country. Zimmerman is an absolutely stud and a Ray Guy candidate. He had a great year last year and also a remarkable Spring Game. Zimmerman also has incredible athleticism for a Punter as we saw him save the NC State games last year (3:01 in the video below). He will have more success this season and barring any long snapping difficulties, Dawson will take care of his business.

Clemson Lands #15

2011-08-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

Jay Jay McCullough

Earlier this afternoon, the Tigers landed their 15th commitment for the class of 2012. Athlete Jay Jay McCullough committed to Coach Swinney earlier this afternoon while on an unofficial visit to TigerTown. This comes on the eve of the start of summer camp. McCullough chose Clemson over offers from Duke, Miami (OH), Kentucky, South Carolina, and Miami (FL). Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 18 recruit in South Carolina.

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Feels Like Home

2011-07-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Ronald Geohaghan

EyeOnTheTigers recently got in touch with 2012 DB commit, Ronald Geohaghan. The Allendale-Fairfax DB is the #11 safety in the nation by Rivals.com. Ronald is the #3 prospect in South Carolina. Geohaghan had a lot to say about his commitment and his plans for this fall.

EyeOnTheTigers. Hey Ronnie, Thanks for talking to us.

Geohaghan. No problem man

EyeOnTheTigers. What have you been up to since you committed back in June?

Geohaghan. Actually I'm just leaving Clemson today.

EyeOnTheTigers. Oh, Ok... how did that go?

Geohaghan. Great man, got to hang out with a friend, Bashaud Breeland. I got to spend some time with Martin Jenkins, Tajh Boyd and a few of the guys.

EyeOnTheTigers. Great man, alright, so who inspired you to play football and when did you start?

Geohaghan. I think I was ten when I first got started and my dad taught me a lot. He played high school football and in college.

EyeOnTheTigers. Where did he play in college?

Geohaghan. He played at SC State.

EyeOnTheTigers. So who is your favorite NFL Team?

Geohaghan. I really don't have a favorite.

EyeOnTheTigers. I guess that will be a good thing when you get drafted. What do you credit as your greatest strength in your game?

Geohaghan. I think just being able to react and play physical.

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you feel is your weakness? What are your plans to improve in this area of your game?

Geohaghan. Probably keep a low center of gravity and work on my hips.

EyeOnTheTigers. Do you plan to keep bulking up and be bigger by the time you enroll here next summer?

Geohaghan. Not really, I'm actually at 192 right now and just trying to work out a slim down a little. Working on my speed.

EyeOnTheTigers. Who was your favorite college team growing up?

Geohaghan. My favorite college growing up was Miami. They were showing some interest, but then Coach Shannon got fired and they never offered.

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you think of Death Valley and the fans?

Geohaghan. I love it up there man. Its like family and feels like home. I was walking around campus today and people were stopping me and being like, you're Ronald Geohaghan... I know you.

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you think will be going through your head when you stand on top of The Hill for your first time in Death Valley?

Geohaghan. That's a feeling you can't explain and it's hard to describe... I don't know what I'll be thinking.

EyeOnTheTigers. Do you do a lot of recruiting and who are you working on the hardest?

Geohaghan. Some guys like Shaq Wilson and Germone Hopper worked on me a lot. Me and Chad Kelly have been working on a lot of the 2013 guys. Mainly positions where players are leaving next year. A lot of the offensive and defensive line recruits.

EyeOnTheTigers. Coach Hobby was your recruiter? How did it impact your recruitment by jumping into a relationship with him after having Coach Rumph leave?

Geohaghan. It didn't really impact it much at all because Clemson was always my #1 school the whole time. There were a couple others like UNC but Clemson was always at the top.

EyeOnTheTigers. You are close friends with Bashaud Breeland and he had a great spring. What impact did he have on your decision?

Geohaghan. Not really a lot of impact, but we had always talked about playing together in college. It would be cool if we could room together, but I'm pretty sure our lockers will be next to each other.

EyeOnTheTigers. You have the ability to play both safety spots or nickel back. Which position are you being told you will start out at and which do you prefer?

Geohaghan. I'm planning on playing Strong Safety.

EyeOnTheTigers. You had several notable offers from high profile schools. Who was the biggest contender next to Clemson?

Geohaghan. Definitely North Carolina.

EyeOnTheTigers. What was the deciding factor?

Geohaghan. It really came down to where I felt most comfortable. I had a couple of visits to UNC but Clemson just felt like home.

EyeOnTheTigers. Is there any chance you could be enrolling early to get a head start on your career?

Geohaghan. No, I am hoping to win a state championship at my high school in track this year.

EyeOnTheTigers. Do you have plans for getting back to Clemson this fall?

Geohaghan. I want to be at all the games, but I am gonna be at the Auburn game. I'll probably be at the FSU and UNC games. I will try to be there for all the home games.

EyeOnTheTigers. All right man, well, we appreciate you talking to us and good luck in football and track this fall.

Geohaghan. Thanks man

Eye On The Tigers

Butch Davis out at UNC

2011-07-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

Former UNC Head Coach Butch Davis

According to ESPN.com, Butch Davis was fired this afternoon. Another coach bites the dust after problems with the NCAA.

Who's The Player & Who's The Coach?

2011-07-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

USC QB Coach G.A. Mangus

  As we all know by now, South Carolina QB Coach GA Mangus was arrested early Tuesday morning in downtown Greenville, SC. Mangus was seen urinating on the street curb and roadway. Officers were called to the scene and after determining that he was drunk, Mangus was issued a ticket for $470, cuffed and taken to the Greenville County Detention Center. According to ESPN.com, Head Coach Steve Spurrier has issued a statement suspending Mangus from the team indefinitely.

  This all comes after QB Stephen Garcia was suspended this spring for alcohol related problems at a mandatory leadership seminar. This was Garcia's fifth suspension during his colorful career at South Carolina. (Whatever happened to three strikes and you're out?) Now this?! Mangus is viewed as a mentor for the troubled Garcia both on and off the field! Anyone see a connection?
  I am a die-hard Clemson fan and nothing makes me more happy than watching things blow up in our arch-rival's faces. This was something that I viewed as hilarious and did not surprise me in the least. We have not come to expect anything less than totally sporadic, and unruly behavior from this Gamecock program. I said it during the spring and I will say it again. SPURRIER IS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THIS TEAM! Players are realizing that they can act any way they want to and still get off lightly. I fully expect more of this behavior if things aren't brought under control soon and starting with addressing the problem... Garcia and now Mangus.
  Last week, a blog was written that called for Clemson to become a more aggressive environment and blasted the University for being too soft. I agreed with the blog and I do feel that we need to become more aggressive as fans and make Death Valley a hostile environment. However, I do appreciate the character of our coaches. Never once have I worried that one of our coaches would be an embarrassment to the University. Many fans blast the "Christian" coaches and blame them for being too soft, but I will take our coaches and their moral standards any day over the junk that happens in Columbia. When was the last time we had multiple players and coaches arrested?
  Needless to say, I support our coaches and believe that we can win with this staff. I don't think it takes thugs and rabble-rousers to produce a championship caliber team. By the way, how many of you think that Spurrier will find a way to let Mangus back into the fold so that he can continue being a mentor for his quarterback? It wouldn't surprise me one bit!

Tigers Picked To Finish Second In The Atlantic

2011-07-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

According to ESPN.com, Clemson is the media choice for second place in the Atlantic Division. FSU was, of course, the pick for #1 and was also the pick to win the ACC Championship game. Virginia Tech was the pick for Coastal Division champs. BC's Montel Harris was the pre-season choice for player of the year, with FSU's E.J. Manuel being the runner-up in the poll. (Andre Ellington was #6 in the voting for POY honors) Here are the final results.

ACC championship votes:
1. Florida State (50)

2. Virginia Tech (18)

3. Clemson (2)

4. Boston College (1)

Atlantic Division

1. Florida State (65)

2. Clemson (4)

3. NC State

4. Boston College (2)

5. Maryland

6. Wake Forest

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (66)

2. Miami (4)

3. North Carolina

4. Georgia Tech (1)

5. Virginia

6. Duke

ACC Player of the Year

1. Montel Harris, Boston College (26)
2. EJ Manuel, Florida State (14)
3. Luke Kuechly, Boston College (12)
4. David Wilson, Virginia Tech (8)
5. Danny O'Brien, Maryland (4)
6. Andre Ellington, Clemson (3)
7. Lamar Miller, Miami (2)
8. Sean Spence, Miami (1), Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (1)

ACC title-game predictions

1. FSU over Virginia Tech (45)
2. Virginia Tech over FSU (15)
3. FSU over Miami (4)
4. Clemson over Virginia Tech (2)
5. Virginia Tech over Clemson (2)
6. Florida State over Georgia Tech (1)
8. Virginia Tech over Boston College and BC over the Hokies (1 each)

Eye On The Tigers

Tigers Land Verbal #14

2011-07-23T18:26:00.001-07:00

OT Oliver Jones

Ninety-Six OT Oliver Jones committed to the Tigers this afternoon. Jones (6-7 285) is the 14th verbal commitment for the 2012 recruiting class. Jones is the #67 OT in the nation and a 3 star recruit by rivals.com. He is ranked the #14 player in the state of South Carolina. His other offers include South Carolina, North Carolina, NC State, and East Carolina. Jones was recruited by Coach Harbison.

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Chad Kelly Named To Elite 11

2011-07-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

According to ESPN, Clemson QB commit Chad Kelly has been named to the Elite 11. Kelly gave EyeOnTheTigers an exclusive interview on July 16, 2011. Kelly(6'3", 208) is the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by rivals.com.

Here is the list of the nation's Elite 11 QB's of 2011

(In alphabetical order)

Austin Appleby, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio)
Neal Burcham, Greenbrier Greenbrier, Ark.) -- MVP
Shane Dillon, El Cajon Christian (El Cajon, Calif.)
Bart Houston, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Chad Kelly, St. Joseph’s (Buffalo. N.Y.)
Zach Kline, San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.)
Jeff Lindquist, Mercer Island (Mercer Island, Wash.)
Tanner Mangum, Eagle (Eagle, Idaho) -- MVP
Zeke Pike, Dixie Heights (Fort Mitchell, Ky.)
Chad Voytik, Cleveland (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Jameis Winston, Hueytown (Hueytown, Ala.) -- MVP

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- The Safeties

2011-07-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

With the loss of DeAndre McDaniel looming over this position, some sports writers are predicting a huge drop-off in production this season. Enter Rashard Hall and Jonathan Meeks! If the sports world didn't know them before this season, they will by the end of it!

The Starters

Rashard Hall

Free Safety: Rashard Hall, Jr. (6-2 200)

Hall is the clear cut leader in the defensive backfield. An instinctive player that makes big plays. He had two interceptions last year bringing his career total to eight. One was returned for a touchdown against Boston College. Hall was praised for his work ethic on and off the field this spring by Coach Steele and Coach Swinney. I expect more interceptions this season and I wouldn't be surprised if Hall's name isn't tossed around by NFL scouts a little more this year.

Jonathan Meeks

Strong Safety: Jonathan Meeks, Jr, (6-1 205)

A big hitter that started a few games last season at free safety, but will move into the starting role at strong safety this season. Has all the skills needed to be great in coverage with a little more experience. This is Meeks' time to shine after a season in McDaniel's shadow and the Tigers will need him to do just that. Meeks could be another big name by the end of the season. Coach Harbison is one of the best defensive back coaches in the nation and I am not at all worried about our production here post-McDaniel.

Second Team

Carlton Lewis

Free Safety: Carlton Lewis, Jr. (6-3 215)

Lewis could be the best athlete of all the safeties. He has good size, speed and also is fairly good in run support. Lewis missed a few games last year after breaking his jaw. An unknown quantity here that has the raw ability to be a contributor but has not been a major factor to this point in his career.

Desmond Brown

Strong Safety: Desmond Brown, RFr. (6-0 192)

Brown is a young player that was redshirted last season. He was highly recruited and a four star player by rivals.com. The 24th best safety in the nation in 2009 and the 12th best player in Alabama. Brown had a solid spring and is expected to see the field this season in limited action. Big upside player and another good prospect for Coach Harbison to work with.

Overview

Clemson should be solid at safety and after all, this is still Coach Steele's defense. He has not changed and will have our safeties ready to produce. The depth is unproven but talented. McDaniel was a big loss but Clemson has always recruited well at this position. I believe the safeties along with the cornerbacks will be productive and one of the best defensive backfields in the conference.

Eye On The Tigers

Chad Kelly Talks Clemson With EyeOnTheTigers

2011-07-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Chad Kelly

Clemson fans are crazy about Clemson Tiger football, and everything associated with it! Earlier today, EyeOnTheTigers finished an interview with 2012 QB, Chad Kelly. Kelly had a lot of things to say about Clemson Football and what he is doing to help get us back on the national scene once again!

In June, Clemson secured a verbal commitment from the nephew of Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. Kelly is the nation's No. 8 dual-threat QB by rivals.com. Kelly is the most vocal of Clemson's 2012 recruits and is already showing leadership qualities. Earlier today, Chad talked with EyeOnTheTigers and here is what he had to say!

EyeOnTheTigers. Hey Chad, thanks for giving us a chance to talk to you and giving us some time out of your day.

Kelly. "No problem, that's what I'm here for."

EyeOnTheTigers. Who inspired you to play football and when did you start?

Kelly. "Wow, I started playing football back in second grade. As for who inspired me. I would have to say my whole family. My dad, and all my uncles. My whole family has been really involved in football."

EyeOnTheTigers. What is your favorite sports memory?

Kelly. "That would have to be winning the state championship this year."

EyeOnTheTigers. Who is your favorite current NFL player?

Kelly. "I like a lot of NFL players. I kind of compare my game to Mike Vick, but as for my favorite player, it would have to be Peyton Manning."

EyeOnTheTigers. Favorite NFL player from the past?

Kelly. "My Uncle."

EyeOnTheTigers. Speaking of your uncle, how much influence has he had on your football career to this point?

Kelly. "A lot, I spend a lot of time practicing with my uncle and my dad. Just working on my game. We want to do everything we can to get us (Clemson) to the National Championship!"

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you think is your greatest strength?

Kelly. "Getting out of the pocket. When the line breaks down, getting out and making plays."

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you feel is your biggest weakness and what are you doing to improve on it?

Kelly. "Reading defenses, at the line, knowing plays... That's what makes guys like Peyton Manning so great. I spend a lot of time with my uncle watching film and working out. He knows that this is a big part of the game, and who better for me to learn from?" (Laughs)

EyeOnTheTigers. Do you think you will be able to continue bulking up so that you can take all the hits that are going to come from running Coach Morris' offense?

Kelly. (Laughs) "Oh yeah, I'm always working on getting bigger. I work out a lot, and just have to keep eating. I'm at 210 lbs right now and I eat like seven meals a day. My girlfriend can tell you, I'm always eating. But I want to be at 215 to 220 pounds by the time I get down there and start school."

EyeOnTheTigers. When was the first time you heard of Clemson University? And what were your initial thoughts about Clemson?

Kelly. "Coach Morris sent me a message on Facebook and said, "Hey, we are gonna offer you. Give me a call." I was like... Ok, so I called him and it took like three days for me to get in touch with him because he was always at practice. When I got the message from Coach Morris, I was just like... Mom, Clemson offered me... Do you know where that is? And she was like, "I think its in Tennessee." (Laughing)

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you think of the Clemson fans?

Kelly. "The fans are passionate. I am constantly get followed on Twitter, and getting friend requests on Facebook. Clemson's fans are the most passionate of all the schools that recruited me."

EyeOnTheTigers. What do you think will be going through your head when you stand on top of The Hill for your first time in Death Valley?

Kelly. "Too much! It will be a dream-come-true for me! Standing in front of 89,000 people... It is gonna be absolutely crazy, I can't wait to get down there!"

EyeOnTheTigers. What were your main reason for choosing Clemson?

Kelly. "Everything. Literally everything. From the academics, to the people at Waffle House. We went in Waffle House while we were there for the Spring Game, and people kept on asking us how we were doing and asking us questions. Everyone knew us and they were all nice."

EyeOnTheTigers. You chose between a lot of good schools, most notably Clemson and Alabama. Could you pinpoint the deciding factor between the Tigers and the Tide?

Kelly. "I love the small town atmosphere at Clemson. Alabama was nice, but it goes back to my first trip to Clemson. I love everything about it."

EyeOnTheTigers. How hard did Bama push for you on your trip down there?

Kelly. "Alabama offered and we went down there, but I just didn't really feel it there. I want to go to a small town, and make a name there. I love the small, family atmosphere at Clemson."

EyeOnTheTigers. What players are you currently recruiting the hardest for Clemson?

Kelly. "Nick Dawson. I hit up the other commitments and make sure they are staying focused. I am fully committed, but I want to make sure the others like, GHopp and the rest stay on track. I have really been working on the guys for 2013. Mainly offensive and defensive linemen. I want people to know that Clemson is recruiting top-of-the-line players and that we are gonna surprise a lot of people. Our goal is a National Championship!"

EyeOnTheTigers. Have you worked out with C.J. Spiller as rumored?

Kelly. "No, C.J. hasn't been in Buffalo since the NFL lockout. I have been working out with the Bills players though. That has been great. In fact, I worked out with them just yesterday."

EyeOnTheTigers. Is there any chance you could be enrolling early to get a head start at Clemson?

Kelly. "No, I love my school and don't want to miss graduation and everything there. I would have to take some summer classes and I just want to enjoy this last year."

EyeOnTheTigers. So, do you have any plans for getting back to Clemson this fall?

Kelly. "No, unfortunately I won't be able to make it to any home games. Most of my games are on Saturdays. I do plan to be at the Clemson/Maryland game and I will be in Columbia for the Clemson/South Carolina game. My uncle and some of my family will be heading down to check it out though and they will be at some of the games this year. Its going to be hard not being able to get to get down there."

EyeOnTheTigers. Alright Chad, good luck this year and we can't wait to get you down here and on the field.

Kelly. "I'm ready to get down there."

Eye On The Tigers

Ga Tech hit with probation

2011-07-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Georgia Tech was hit with probation earlier today.

According to ESPN,

"The NCAA put Georgia Tech on four years of probation, fined the school $100,000 and stripped its ACC title game win from the 2009 football season Thursday for violations that also included problems in the men's basketball program."

Check out the rest of the story @ NCAA places Ga. Tech on probation. (ESPN.com)

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- The Cornerbacks

2011-07-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Starters

Xavier Brewer returns a pick for a TD!

CB: Xavier Brewer, Jr. (5-11 190)

Brewer came on strong last year as he saw a major increase in his playing time. When the Tigers went to the Nickel package, Gilchrist would move inside and Brewer was on the outside, or vice versa. Brewer saw time on the outside at corner and inside as the nickel back. Brewer is making the transition this season to starter and will fill the role that Gilchrist filled last season. I expect major things from Brewer as he makes the jump to starter, and he should become one of the ACC's top defensive backs.

Coty Sensabaugh breaks up a pass!

CB: Coty Sensabaugh, Sr. (6-0 180)

Sensabaugh is one of the fastest players on the team. He will have to fight to keep his job this season, as the depth chart is loaded to the brim with quality players. Sensabaugh saw limited time last season, and he didn't do anything spectacular in spring practice to make me believe that he has a firm hold on his job here. Whether as a starter, or as a backup, Sensabaugh is a good player with decent experience. I suspect he will be valuable this season.

The Backups

Bashaud Breeland

CB: Bashaud Breeland, RFr. (6-0 190)

This is the star of the future, barring unforeseen injury. Breeland has drawn rave reviews not only from the staff, but also former Tiger star players. DeAndre McDaniel let the cat out of the bag last season in an interview when he mentioned that Breeland was "lights out" on the practice squad. Breeland is solidly built with good size and speed. It would not surprise me at all to see him starting at some point during the first three games. He is versatile enough to play outside at corner, inside at nickel back, or free safety.

Martin Jenkins tackle against Wake Forest.

CB: Martin Jenkins, So. (5-10 175)

Another speedy DB, Jenkins avoided a redshirt last season, but didn't get a lot of time on the field. Extremely talented and a good return specialist. A bit undersized for Coach Harbison's liking, but he is still a solid player that provides quality depth. Jenkins will see his fair share of time on the field this season. As were all of the DBs from the 2010 class, Jenkins was solid in spring practice.

Up & Comers

Darius Robinson

CB: Darius Robinson, So. (5-10 165)

Like Jenkins, Robinson is also undersized. Robinson saw the field a bit more than Jenkins did last season, and he, too, avoided a redshirt. Recorded his first pick of his career against Maryland. Another player that had a solid spring. Robinson will see the field in limited action this season if he continues to perform as he did during spring practice.

Garry Peters

CB: Garry Peters, RFr. (6-0 185)

Peters is a player that impressed me a lot during the Spring Game. I noticed his play and work ethic pretty quickly, nor did he go unnoticed by the coaches for his performance. Peters has good size and speed. Redshirted last season and it did him a noticeable amount of good. Peters will also have a shot to see action this fall.

Cortez Davis

CB: Cortez Davis, Fr. (6-3 200)

Davis is a player that must have Coach Harbison drooling to get him on the field. It will be very tempting to get him playing time this season in key matchups against larger receivers. Davis looks like a safety and could easily play either safety or CB. Probably a redshirt, but he will definitely have a chance to earn some playing time if he shows up prepared to play.

Overview

Clemson's cornerbacks should be strong this season. In fact, it would not surprise me if this group of corners is not better than last season's starters. The depth chart is a nice blend of size, speed, and toughness. This group is much more physical than what we have seen in the past few years here at Clemson. I agree with Coach Harbison's philosophy of recruiting big DBs. This is the only way we will be able to match up with the bigger receivers that are starting to dominate the smaller, speedy corners. I think this unit will be one of the strengths of our defense this year!

Cory Stanton Leaves Basketball Program

2011-07-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Rising 2nd year PG Cory Stanton has announced that he will be leaving Clemson in order to be closer to home. Stanton recorded quality minutes for the Tigers and was looked at as a backup PG to Andre Young next year.

Stanton was a good player, not a great scorer but he did play quality defense, especially as a freshman. While I think this lost certainly does not help us, I don't believe it will hurt too much. Stanton was not really a starting ACC caliber guard, he was more of a holdover from Brownell's previous post. He took the advantage of Brownell not being able to fully recruit that cycle. Obviously, the Tigers had a great PG last year in Stitt. He was someone who could gash defenses and finish around the rim. Stanton was not this type of player, but to be honest, I don't think that type of player exists on the roster right now. That is where the Tigers are most likely going to find trouble, especially when defenders creep out on the arc to cover Young. Stanton would have been a quality player this year and good backup. It would be nice to have the bridge of depth between Stitt and the new incoming guards such as Sapp and Coleman. This most likely means the young freshman will see some valuable minutes on the hardwood this winter. We wish Cory the best of luck in all of his pursuits. Thanks for giving your effort to Clemson.

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- LB

2011-07-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

The Backups

Spencer Shuey

Mike Linebacker: Spencer Shuey, Soph.

Shuey is Clemson's biggest linebacker. (6'3" 250 lbs) Shuey played sparingly last year, and is going to have to fight off extremely talented freshmen this offseason. Rumor has it that Shuey has been cross training at defensive end. With the loss of Joe Gore, I would not be surprised to see Shuey get more reps at End this fall.

Justin Parker

Sam Linebacker: Justin Parker, Soph.

Parker could be the most talented returning linebacker this year. According to Coach Steele, the light came on during the spring and Parker was "lights out!" In one of the practices this spring, Parker put SR Fullback, Chad Diehl, on his butt with a major hit! This is saying something, as it is well known that Diehl is the hardest hitting player on the team. Parker also has experience in the middle and is listed as the starter at Mike when the Defense goes to the nickel package. I would not be surprised to see Parker starting somewhere on the field this season, and when the Tiger D goes to a 3-4 look, Parker should be a starter in the middle.

Vic Beasley

Will Linebacker: Vic Beasley, RFr.

Where raw talent and athleticism is concerned, Beasley is probably the most intriguing player on the defensive side of the roster. Last year, he was redshirted as a TE, but moved to LB in the spring. Not yet ready to make a major impact, but when he gets some experience, Beasley could be a beast for defensive coordinators to plan for. I expect great things out of Beasley in the future!

The Freshmen

Tony Steward

No one signed a better class of linebackers in 2011. This was a major upgrade for Coach Steele's Defense. Those great defenses at Bama were built around the D Line and Linebackers. We have had the defensive line, but not the linebackers to be able to properly run Coach Steele's multiple look defense. Enter Tony Steward, Stephone Anthony, Lateek Townsend, & B.J. Goodson. I am not really sure where Anthony or Steward will play, as both players are capable on the inside and out. My personal opinion is that Anthony will become Clemson's best inside linebacker since Anthony Simmons and Keith Adams. I would love to see Steward's speed on the outside, taking away those screen plays that were so often given up last year. Townsend is a hard-hitting, heat-seeking missile! Another opinion of mine is that Townsend could eventually see a chance to play some SS. (Reminds me of De'Andre McDaniel) I would also like to see that speed in that nickel spot. Either way, Townsend will eventually be a talent that will be impossible to keep of the field. Goodson will be a player that may surprise people. No one has really paid attention to him with the additions of the other three, more highly rated players. Goodson is a hard hitter, and a sure tackler. A real blue collar player, that would have been rated much higher at a more recognized high school program. Will get a fair shot at playing time this year, as will all the freshmen linebackers. I expect great things from this group!

Stephone Anthony

Lateek Townsend

B.J. Goodson

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- LB

2011-07-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Starters

Corico Hawkins

Mike Linebacker: Corico Hawkins, Jr.

Hawkins is a tough, hard-nosed player that plays bigger than his size.(5'11" 230 lbs) He is the leading, returning tackler on the team with 71 tackles a year ago. His 10 tackles for loss were nice, & his 3 sacks are not too shabby as well. Hawkins has the best chance of all the returning linebackers to keep his starting job this year. He does a good job in run support, and wraps up well in the open field.

Quandon Christian

Sam Linebacker: Quandon Christian, Soph.

Christian is another player that has tons of potential. He has nice size for the strongside position, and came on strong at the end of last season. He started seven games last year and collected 24 tackles. Christian drew great reviews again this spring, but will have to continue fighting talented, sophomore linebacker, Justin Parker, for his job this summer.

Jonathan Willard

Will Linebacker: Jonathan Willard, Jr.

Willard is quick and athletic, with good size. He started two games last year, totaling 27 tackles in only 160 snaps. Willard is good, but needs to improve his tackling abilities. I remember being frustrated early in the season, as I watched Willard play bump&run with ball carriers. Willard will have to fight hard to keep his job, with the incoming freshmen.

Check back tomorrow for the backup linebackers, and who could be starting by the end of the season.

KYHJC5HZU9M8

TigerTalk

2011-07-09T07:16:00.001-07:00

We have added a new feature to our blog. TigerTalk is a free message board and extremely easy to use. Be sure to click on the link at the top of the page and check us out. We are constantly working to improve the site and would love to hear any ideas you may have. One of our main priorities is to get some conversations started here at EyeOnTheTigers. Check back later this weekend for a preview of Clemson's linebacker depth chart.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Tigers Add Leamon!

2011-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Javarius Leamon

Javarius Leamon has ended his recruitment and has verbally committed to the Clemson Tigers. Leamon is the state of South Carolina's No.1 Offensive Line prospect. The three star left tackle(6'6" 295 lbs) is a major boost to the Tigers offensive line. Leamon is the third prospect to commit to Jeff Scott. The left tackle is the No. 56 tackle prospect in the nation according to rivals.com. Leamon is the seventh instate committment for the Tigers as Clemson continues to dominate recruiting in South Carolina for 2012!

Sparks Will Fly!

2011-07-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

I was going through my list of DVR recordings tonight and realized I had recorded the 2009 Clemson vs Miami game. I'm sure you have all watched it a billion times. (They show the rerun every two weeks on ESPN Classic) As we all know, right before halftime, Miami kicks the ball off to CJ and he takes it back to the house. This happened a total of 7 times during his career and is the NCAA record for most kick returns for touchdown in a career.

We all got used to this being the norm at Clemson, but I still feel the chills running down my spine when I watch a replay of CJ's kick returns. Last year, we only felt those chills once on special teams and didn't feel them at all after Ellington went down against BC. Gilchrist would have been a great kick returner for most teams, but for us... well, we are used to better.

We should feel those chills more often next year with Ellington back and the infusion of speed in the form of Bellamy, Watkins, Bryant, and Peake. Don't forget Hopkins in all of our excitement as this guy could have the best hands in the ACC. I am so excited to see what happens with Coach Morris' offense. I am almost too young to remember Coach Rod's offense, but as young as I was, I still remember the end of his run at Clemson. This could be the best we have seen at Clemson since the likes of Dantzler, Gardner, and Zachery. It has been a long time since we had an offense that everyone was scared of. Spiller was great, Ford was great, James Davis was awesome. The problem was, that we had this talent, but not the coaches that knew how to utilize it. With Spiller, we could score anytime he touched the ball, but we still weren't able to move the ball consistently down the field. Now, we not only have player that can score at any time, but we also have the offensive line and players(and the O-Line coach) to grind it out and wear defenses down.

I know we are all ready for this year, and I can't wait to see the Tigers run down that Hill and into Death Valley for the first time in 2011. This is the beginning of a new offensive era, and hopefully, once again... Sparks will fly!

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Just want to say to all the readers that have served and are currently serving, that we salute you today! As a member of our nation's military, I understand the things that are daily asked of you! Thanks to all out there serving this great nation, and all that have served in wars past! Also, thanks to all the families that have had a loved one sacrificed for our country and you are constantly in our prayers.

Clemson 2011 Preview-Not A Pretender

2011-07-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

You don't bleed orange if this doesn't get you ready for some CLEMSON TIGER FOOTBALL!!!!

EyeOnTheTigers

Tajh Boyd Named ACC Player of the Week

The Spark Returns!

The Future Is Now

Troy 19(0-1, 0-1 away)Clemson 43(1-0, 1-0 home)

Troy 19(0-1, 0-1 away)Clemson 43(1-0, 1-0 home)

Troy 19

Clemson 43

Fan Appreciation Day

Tigers Land 6'8" Power Forward

The Kicking Issue

Clemson Lands #15

Feels Like Home

Butch Davis out at UNC

Who's The Player & Who's The Coach?

Tigers Picked To Finish Second In The Atlantic

Tigers Land Verbal #14

Chad Kelly Named To Elite 11

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- The Safeties

Chad Kelly Talks Clemson With EyeOnTheTigers

Ga Tech hit with probation

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- The Cornerbacks

Cory Stanton Leaves Basketball Program

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- LB

Pre-Summer Camp Depth Chart- LB

TigerTalk

Tigers Add Leamon!

Sparks Will Fly!

Happy Independence Day

Clemson 2011 Preview-Not A Pretender

Troy 19
(0-1, 0-1 away)
Clemson 43
(1-0, 1-0 home)

Troy 19
(0-1, 0-1 away)
Clemson 43
(1-0, 1-0 home)