Wednesday August 30, 2006

Insider Notes

I had a chance to talk to a several sources this week about the program. I can tell you the staff is very excited about this game, this season and the future.

Here is some info from some sources:

*The staff feels great about the freshman class. They think they hit on everyone of them. There are only a couple that are behind where they thought they would be but those two look like they can get them up to speed after a red-shirt season.”

*C.J. Spiller has been unbelievable. “He is as talented at his position as any I have been around,” said one source.

*The staff likes Michael Wade. Coach Spence thinks he can develop into a very good one. He reminds the staff of Will Proctor.

*Michael Palmer is everything they thought he would be and more. They like his toughness. He is going to be a good one.

*The coaches like Chris Hairston’s athletic ability. They really hit on that one.

*They signed two special linebackers. Campbell is a good-looking kid that is bright and will be a very good player. Kevin Alexander has a chance to be special. He has a chance to play a lot of different positions and can develop into a special player.

*Kendrick Johnson missed some time but they like what we have seen out of him. He has a chance to be a good one.

*Cullen Harper has really been solid. The staff thinks he is everything that we thought he would be. They feel extremely comfortable with him.

*The Tigers are going to graduate four seniors and might lose Barry Richardson to the NFL but this next bunch of offensive linemen is ahead of this current group at this stage. They don’t have the experience but they are more athletic.

*Billy Nappier and Chris Rumph have been great hires. Both guys are working very hard in recruiting and on the field. Both are not just recruiters but are solid football coaches also.

*Kavell Conner is slightly ahead of Cortney Vincent in the battle for second-team linebacker.

*The staff has bantered about the idea of red-shirting Tramaine Billie. If that is the case, the scenario of Nick Watkins and Billie outside and Antonio Clay inside is a possibility.

*Recruiting is going extremely well. When Muse, Ruffin and Kindred left it opened up three scholarships but the staff feels they would be over signing if they signed 21 next February.

Junior recruiting is also going extremely well. The staff is going out Friday night and a lot of what they will be doing is junior recruiting. Clemson has a lead on several of the top juniors in South Carolina right now and the staff feels like they could probably tell you ten or so players they fell great about right now.

*There is a sense of something special about to happen around the program. The seniors believe that something special can be this year. The staff feels it can be also but the future looks just as bright if not brighter. The program is about to take off according to many insiders.

*One of the most positive aspects of the program now is the work ethic. The upper classmen have made it known to the underclassmen what is expected from a work ethic standpoint everyday. This is a great situation because when the newcomers arrive each year they are held accountable and shown how hard they have to work. As that class progresses each year the work ethic is passed down to the next group of freshmen. The players are holding each other accountable when it comes to the work ethic.

*The staff is communicating with the players and their parents more now. There are a couple of members of the freshmen class that the decision about red-shirting has not been made yet. The staff has been talking with the players and their parents about the decision. They are letting their parents have an input. This is a good idea because they want the trust of the parents also. They do not want to feel as if they were anything but totally honest during the recruiting process. In the end, this is a great idea because it only builds trust between staff, player and family and only helps recruiting.

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