Willie Simmons looked sharp despite the wind and cold temps.
Football Team Opens Up Spring Practice |
by Dan Scott
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Correspondent
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Mon Mar 05 23:26:27 GMT-04:00 2001
CLEMSON - Clemson's football team finally made it on the field for the beginning of spring practice Monday, though the weather seems intent on giving the Tigers fits.
After being washed out on Saturday's first attempt to open drills, head coach Tommy Bowden put Clemson through a three-hour practice Monday despite unseasonably cold temperatures and a steady, sometimes gusting wind.
"It was a little rough around the edges," Bowden said of the first day back. "When you run a skilled offense and you're out there throwing and catching and, all of the sudden, the wind's blowing and it's bitter cold, it's not the perfect day.
"But it's a starting point. Even as rough as it was, we got a place to start and now you go from there. The point now is that in the 15 opportunities we have, we make improvement."
Quarterback Woody Dantzler, who is recovering from off-season surgery on his ankle, did some throwing and light running Monday. He is not expected to take part in full drills until later in the spring.
Others missing from spring drills include tailback Travis Zachery (broken foot) and defensive end Nick Eason (torn achilles).
"This is a good opportunity for somebody to close the gap on Woody and Travis, and then for somebody to take (former wide receiver) Rod Gardner's spot" Bowden said. "But (today) really wasn't a good day for someone to jump out at you."
Monday was a good day to work on alignment and assignment, however.
Bowden said a breakdown of film from last season showed Clemson's defense gave up 55 plays longer than 20 yards. Of that number, he said, 45 came because of a defender lined up in the wrong spot or missing an assignment.
"That shows our defense wasn't as veteran as we thought it was," said Bowden.
The team will take Tuesday off, then resume practice Wednesday afternoon.
Spring 2001 Depth Chart
Offense
WR 82 Jackie Robinson 6-1 190 *Jr.
80 Matt Bailey 6-4 220 *Sr.
21 Derrick Hamilton 6-4 190 *Fr
84 J.J. McKelvey 6-4 215 Jr.
LT 61 Akil Smith 6-4 270 *Jr.
74 Nate Gillespie 6-3 271 *So
LG 50 Will Merritt 6-3 260 Gr.
74 Nick Black 6-5 280 *So.
C 59 Kyle Young 6-3 277 *Sr.
51 Brian Outlaw 6-2 245 *Sr.
RG 73 T.J. Watkins 6-3 275 *Sr.
65 Cedric Johnson 6-4 310 *Fr
RT 79 Gary Byrd 6-4 290 *Jr.
71 Derrick Brantley 6-5 300 *Jr.
TE 83 Morgan Woodward 6-0 212 *Sr.
88 Todd McClinton 6-6 250 So.
QB 1 #Woodrow Dantzler 5-11 200 *Sr.
7 Willie Simmons 6-0 190 *So.
TB 8 #Travis Zachery 6-0 190 *Sr.
20 Bernard Rambert 6-0 200 Jr.
5 Keith Kelly 6-0 215 So.
FB 10 Chad Jasmin 5-10 214 *So.
WR 17 Kevin Youngblood 6-5 210 *So.
16 Joe Don Reames 5-10 185 Jr.
85 Ronnie Thomas 5-11 190 So.
12 Jeff Scott 6-1 190 So.
# - injured, could miss most of spring practices
Defense
LE 98 #Nick Eason 6-4 255 *Jr.
91 Bryant McNeal 6-5 235 *Jr.
44 David Ellis 6-1 221 Jr.
LT 96 Donnell Washington 6-6 270 *Fr
94 Paul White 6-2 270 *So.
RT 95 Jovon Bush 6-5 295 *Sr.
97 DeJuan Polk 6-2 265 *So.
RE 56 Khaleed Vaughan 6-4 250 *So.
55 #Marcus Lewis 6-2 255 *So.
SLB 42 Altroy Bodrick 6-1 215 *Sr.
47 Rodney Feaster 6-0 210 Jr.
WLB 46 Chad Carson 6-3 235 Sr.
41 Rodney Thomas 6-0 215 Jr.
$ 48 Braxton K. Williams 6-2 203 Sr.
58 J.J. Howard 6-3 220 *So.
SS 40 Charles Hafley 6-1 195 *Sr.
25 Marcus Houskin 6-0 200 *So.
FS 3 Eric Meekins 6-2 190 Jr.
33 Ronnie Delusme 6-2 185 *Fr.
LC 2 Brian Mance 5-11 185 Jr.
36 Toure Francis 5-10 184 So.
RC 27 Kevin Johnson 6-0 185 *So.
22 Ryan Hemby 5-10 175 *Fr.
# - injured, will miss spring practices
$ - denotes star safety position
P Wynn Kopp
PK Aaron Hunt
Dan Scott is the host of SportsTalk (10AM-Noon) on 104.9 FM in Upstate SC and
Managing Editor of Seneca Daily Journal/Clemson Daily Messenger
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