CLEMSON, SC -- The return of Will Merritt to the practice fields was the
highlight of Clemson's workout on Friday. Tommy Bowden decided to have his
team look at film in the morning and hold just one shorts-and-helmets
practice in the afternoon.
Merritt, who had had tests run earlier in the week to check a slow
resting heart beat and a virus, was cleared to return to the practice
fields and went through the normal three hour (including stretching and
conditioning drills) practice. "Will has been cleared to play and was
back on the practice fields today," said Bowden. "He will play in the
scrimmage on Saturday (as our starting left guard)."
Clemson will hold a scrimmage that will be closed to public on
Saturday morning. "We will have a long practice in the stadium and will
take a long look at the kicking game and all special teams. We will also
see who can make some plays among the special teams players.
"I wouldn't look for Rod Gardner, Robert Carswell and Keith Adams
to play a lot of plays, but I am anxious to see some of the younger players
get some work. I am anxious to see Greg Walker, Keith Kelly, Kevin
Youngblood and some others."
Ten players missed the shorts and helmet practice on Friday. The
list included Rod Gardner (turf toe), Kyle Young (foot), Justin Watts
(knee), Derrick Hamilton (hamstring), Altroy Bodrick (ankle), Keith Adams
(hamstring), Charles Harper (hamstring), Neely Page (back), Keith Kelly
(hip flexor), and Aaron Hunt (hip flexor). Watts, Young, Hamilton,
Harper, Page and Kelly are questionable for the scrimmage on Saturday.
Notes:
Sophomore wide receiver Joe Don Reames hopes to be in front of a
television set on Sunday. His brother, pitcher Britt Reames, has been
called up to the St. Louis Cardinals and will start against the
Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon....Graduate student running back
Terry Witherspoon continues to make progress from a conditioning
standpoint. After the Friday afternoon practice he successful ran the
circumference of the playing field in 55 seconds on his fifth and final
lap, his fastest time of the August workouts....Bowden has said Witherspoon
would be a factor in the tailback derby if he gets to the high 240s in
terms of his body weight...Clemson preseason All-American Robert Carswell
will be one of the featured players on the Playboy All-America team special
that will be shown on WSPA TV 7 in Spartanburg on August 26th at 12:00 Noon.
Bowden talks to media
after practice on Fri. (2:31)
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