High Retention Rate
Attrition is the norm in college football. Programs are always losing head coaches, assistant coaches, coordinators, and players.
Coaches leave for promotions or better job or get fired. Players get home sick, flunk out of school, transfer to other schools, get dismissed, etc.
Clemson has been extremely fortunate to have a very high retention rate of its players. Coach Swinney does not believe in running off players. If a player stays out of trouble and does what is asked, Swinney will not run him off if he does not figure into their plans. Other programs do this to clear scholarship room, but Swinney says if a player can't play then it is the staff's fault for making a bad evaluation.
Also you have to credit the players and the staff at Vickery Hall for the low number of academic casualties over the past four years.
It is that high retention rate along the small recruiting class of 2009 that has this upcoming recruiting class in limited numbers. Limited numbers in a recruiting class is a negative but high retention rate in your program is very positive.
Here's a look at the last four classes and who is no longer with the program. Again the numbers are surprisingly low.
In 2012, Clemson signed 20 players but two did not make it to school and the other 18 are still in the program. Josh BrownJosh Brown
Defensive Tackle
# 6-5, 290
Aiken, SC
View Full Profile, a defensive lineman from Aiken, and Marty Williams, a defensive back from North Augusta, never made it to Tiger Town. But the rest of the 2012 class is still here. The fact that all 18 players in that class are still here is remarkable.
In 2011, Clemson signed 29 players and six are no longer with the program. The biggest name is Mike BellamyMike Bellamy
Running Back
#5 5-10, 175
Nocatee, FL
View Full Profile the running back from Punta Gorda Florida. This was a five-star back who had all the potential in the world but was not mature enough to handle the task. Defensive back Cortez DavisCortez Davis
Cornerback
#29 6-3, 200
Daytona Beach, FL
View Full Profile, quarterbacks Tony McNeil and Morgan RobertsMorgan Roberts
RS Jr. Quarterback
#15 6-2, 200
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile, and linebackers Lateek TownsendLateek Townsend
Linebacker
#20 6-2, 215
Bennettsville, SC
View Full Profile, and Colton WallsColton Walls
Linebacker
#48 6-2, 220
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile are the rest of the class that is no longer a part of the program. Townsend and Davis were four star prospects that the staff had high hopes for but neither materialized.
In 2010, Clemson signed 24 players, but two players never made it to campus including linebacker Ricky Cheney and defensive back Evan McKelvey. Defensive back Desmond BrownDesmond Brown
Safety
#45 5-11, 185
Centre, AL
View Full Profile, running back Demonte Buice and wide receiver Joe CraigJoe Craig
Wide Receiver
#81 5-10, 160
Gaffney, SC
View Full Profile are no longer with the program.
The 2009 class was the first under Coach Swinney. This was a small class and only two players did not make it through the program. They were JK Jay the offensive lineman who suffered an injury and wide receiver Bryce McNeil who transferred. Jay's injury really hurt the offensive line. McNeal was not as good prospect as the staff first hoped.
So 16 players in the previous four classes are no longer with the program. I have not done the research but that number seems extraordinary low and again is a compliment to the staff. They have done a good job of evaluation. It also speaks to the character of the players.
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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.
Those who need our prayers include: Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Travis Patterson, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, The Sturkey Family, the Lance family, Marcus Lattimore, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Patrick Heher, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Johnnie Walker, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day plus their families.