Monday July 27, 2009

Linebacker U?

Linebacker U?
I feel for Stanley Hunter. He is a very nice kid who continues to face adversity but the latest news has to be hard for Hunter to take. His football days are over.

That has to be a hard to accept. For years football was Hunter’s future now it is gone.

This situation can be addressed from two perspectives, the student-athlete and the program.

From the perspective of the student-athlete the end has to come sometime but few are ever prepared for that day. “I spend a lot of time with my two players talking about the end of football,” says Brad Hughes, one of the mentors in Clemson’s Spiritual Two-A-Days program.

“My guys may have two more years or ten more years if they are lucky enough to play in the NFL but one day it will all end. It could end at any point. So we talk a lot about building on a solid foundation,” Brad added.

So now Hunter wakes up with a new agenda. His attention will go from pre-season camp to treating his seizures.

I have a feeling Hunter will rise up and persevere and climb his next mountain.

From the perspective of the program there should be concern at linebacker. The linebacker unit was thin before the Hunter news but now the staff has to deal with one less linebacker. Clemson comes into the 2009 season with questions about quality and quantity.

So how did “Linebacker U” turn into this linebacker question mark?

The answer is simple. Recruiting linebackers has been the issue. Clemson missed out on several top linebacker prospects but they also missed on some evaluations.

For example, Clemson and Florida State were the finalist for Geno Hayes. Hayes signed with the Seminoles. Clemson lost Ryan Stamper to Florida. The Tigers were in the final two for Craig Stevens who inked with Auburn. Lorenzo Edwards chose the Gators. Terrell Manning and Dwayne Maddox picked NC State over Clemson and others. Marcus Dowtin signed with Georgia and Jerrell Harris Picked Alabama over Clemson.

Sure the Tigers missed out on more than their fair share of big-time linebacker prospects but maybe an even bigger issue has been evaluating linebackers.

Several linebackers that chose Clemson have simply not been as good as advertised. Josh Miller picked Clemson over FSU but he never materialized. Antonio Clay picked Clemson over Oklahoma and several factors led to him being a disappointment. Alonzo Higgins never made it in school.

Scotty Cooper picked Clemson over LSU but he has had a hard time with assignments and has not been a great open field tackler. Tarrick Rollins has had a hard time making the adjustment to the college game after his knee injury. Jeremy Campbell was not a highly recruited player and has basically been a back up so far in his career.

Other linebackers outgrew their position. Andre Branch and Kevin Alexander were signed as linebackers but have grown into defensive ends.

So unless Kevin Alexander or someone else moves to linebacker, this unit is thin. Brandon Maye returns as the starter at the MIKE. He had a solid year and should be better with more experience. Campbell is a solid back-up here. Spencer Shuey might red-shirt if no one is injured at this position.

Kavell Conner is the leading tackler from a year ago and he is coming off of a solid junior season at the WILL. The former high school running back has been pretty consistent in his career. Red-shirt freshmen Tig Willard had a terrific spring and should get a chance to get snaps at a couple of positions this season. True freshman Corrico Hawkins might avoid a red-shirt season because depth is needed.

The SAM linebacker spot belongs to Cooper and depth is a major concern here. Daniel Andrews, Rollins and true freshman Quandon Christian are back-ups here.

The Tigers will benefit from new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s experience. The defense promises to be more aggressive in 2009 so maybe this will fit the personnel better.

A lot of us remember Bubba Brown, Randy Scott, Jeff Davis, Danny Triplett, Johnny Rembert, Keith Williams, Henry Walls, Ed McDaniel, Doug Brewster, Anthony Simmons, Keith Adams, Leroy Hill and Anthony Waters. It is hard to believe this unit has fallen to its current situation.

I don’t want to give the impression that all is lost here. The good news is the defensive front is among the best in the nation and the secondary is deep and talented. Also I can see a scenario where Maye and Conner have big years and Cooper finally lives up to his potential. If everyone stays healthy this unit might be a big part of a terrific defense.

By the same token though, injuries could set in and Cooper’s inconsistency might continue. I have asked the question again and again this summer, “Can you have a dominating defense without excellent linebacker play?” I guess we may be forced to find out starting in a few weeks.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene.