Thursday Thoughts

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Thu Oct 01 08:46:37 GMT-04:00 2015

Thursday Thoughts

Christian WilkinsChristian Wilkins
Fr. Defensive Tackle
#42 6-5, 299
Longmeadow, MA
View Full Profile

Clemson's five-star freshman defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has gotten off to an amazing start in his college career. The true freshman is third in the team in tackles with 24. Linebacker BJ Goodson leads the team in tackles with 29 in 144 snaps. Safety TJ Green has 27 tackles on 167 plays. Wilkins 24 stops has come on only 87 snaps.

Wilkins has seen his playing time increase each week. He played 24 snaps against Wofford, 28 against Appalachian State and 35 against Louisville.

In the opener, he had six tackles. In his second game, he upped it to eight tackles and against Louisville he had ten tackles. Only Goodson's 12 tackles were more against the Cards. Wilkins was a major reason the Tigers held Louisville to 272 yards and only 19 rushing yards on 28 carries.

1977, 1979

Clemson and Notre Dame played a couple of classic games in 1977 and 1979 with the road team winning each contest. The games were fairly similar in style. Both home teams had second half leads, but turnovers were the difference. In fact, the losing team turned the ball over five times in each game while the winning teams had only one turnover each.

One thing we won't see in this game is the conservative game plans. The game has changed dramatically since the late 70s. In fact, Clemson completed only two passes in its win in South Bend in 1979.

Programs Since 1977

Tim Bourrett came up with some interesting information about these two programs. In the 38 years since these two teams last met, they have played 452 games each. Both programs have won one national title since the 1977 game, but Clemson has had more success. Clemson has won more games, has had more ten win seasons, more top 25 finishes, more bowl appearances, and more bowl wins.

Recruiting

Saturday is a big day in terms of recruiting. The staff is entertaining some of the best players in the country this weekend. Among them are most of the committed players in the Class of 2016. One former commitment, Shaq Smith, may be the biggest uncommitted target in that class. Smith is a five-star linebacker who is ranked 14th overall in the country by rivals.com. Summerville, SC offensive lineman John Simpson and Greensboro, NC wide out Diondre Overton will be in attendance. Those two are the highest rated offensive players still left on the board. Clemson has limited room left for the class, so much of the attention Saturday will go to the Class of 2017 and 2018. Four of the top 100 players in rivals.com rankings are scheduled to be in town. Lakeland, FL wide out J.J. Robinson, Chesapeake, Va safety Devon Hunter, Shelby, NC linebacker Justin Foster and Santee, SC safety Davondre Robinson headline a great group of the Class of 2017. Perhaps the biggest name of the Class of 2018 scheduled is Cartersville, GA quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Stars

These two programs look very similar in terms of talent. According to rivals.com, Notre Dame has 12 top 100 players on its roster and Clemson has 11. The Irish have 25 four stars and three five stars while Clemson has 17 four stars and four five stars.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

src="https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/ads/plyler/allstate_logo.gif" border=0>

border=0>

Prayer List

The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. 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 remove a person off the list.

Those who need our prayers include: 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, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, 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, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#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, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki 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, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon KirklandLevon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
View Full Profile and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Earl Gilstrap, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile , Robert Summerville, Wendell Harrington, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert SmithRobert Smith
Safety (2011 - 2014)
#27 5-11, 215
St. George, SC
View Full Profile , Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Lena Wright, Donna Springs, Elizabeth Bruner, Bobbi Simpson, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie CunninghamBennie Cunningham
Tight End (1972 - 1975)
#85 6-5, 250
Seneca, SC
View Full Profile , Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.