News and notes from Friday's practice

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Fri Aug 17 13:56:35 GMT-04:00 2012

CLEMSON – The competition for starting spots on Clemson’s offensive line continues to be a battle, with the depth chart fluid and changing with every practice.

The Clemson Tigers ran through a practice early Friday morning, and Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile said that he had David BeasleyDavid Beasley
RS So. Offensive Guard
#68 6-4, 315
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile and Shaq AnthonyShaq Anthony
RS So. Offensive Line
#76 6-4, 275
Williamston, SC
View Full Profile working with the first team.

Beasley worked at first team left guard, while Anthony worked at first team right tackle.

“Beasley has been working with the ones the last couple of days, and where we are right now are zeroing in on he and Kalon [Davis] and letting them compete for that starting spot,” Swinney said. “Over at right tackle, with Shaq Anthony, he has been taking most of the reps with the ones since our last scrimmage. He and Joe GoreJoe Gore
RS Fr. Offensive Line
#73 6-6, 260
Lake Waccamaw, NC
View Full Profile are battling for that right tackle spot. Unless something drastic changes between now and next week that is where we are zeroing in.”

He said that Ryan NortonRyan Norton
RS Fr. Offensive Line
#58 6-3, 265
Mauldin, SC
View Full Profile – who has seen time at center as well as the guard spot – will concentrate on center.

“We are trying to get Ryan Norton confident at center,” he said. “We have been mixing him in at guard a little bit. But we are going to let these guys compete. We have to keep bringing them along. The early story of our team is the play of some redshirt freshmen and sophomores who are going to play some key roles for us.”

Beasley told us he grew up an Auburn fan – his dad actually played at Arkansas St. when former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville was there - and his home in Georgia is just 30 minutes from the Auburn campus, but said he needed to get away from him. We will have a story on him later.

Swinney said that Saturday will be big for players still trying to earn a spot.

“This will be our last live scrimmage,” Swinney said. “It is really important for some guys as to how we set the depth chart going into Monday. We have a two-a-day on Monday, but will start flipping the script pretty quickly and start getting dialed in on Auburn. Probably quicker than we did last year, and the biggest reason for that is we have so many young players.”

*Wide receiver Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
So. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 200
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile – who will serve a two-game suspension to begin the season – won't make the trip to Atlanta with the team but will be at Fan Appreciation Day Sunday.

*Swinney said that Adam Humphries and Charone Peake will split the plays in Watkins’ spot against Auburn.

*Swinney said that the coaches will make the initial depth chart – what we should see against Auburn – Monday.

*Speaking of Watkins, Swinney was asked if any of the freshmen from this season look like they could have an impact..a la Sammy…this year, and he said that defensive tackle D.J. ReaderD.J. Reader
Fr. Defensive Tackle
#48 6-3, 305
Greensboro, NC
View Full Profile has caught on quickly.

"He reminds me of Sammy in a lot of ways,” Swinney said. “A different position, but he reminds me of Sammy in how serious he is about it, how competitive he is about it, how technically sound he is, how quick he's picked up the system."