Wide Receiver Shortage a Homecoming Concern

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Wed Oct 13 21:36:19 GMT-04:00 2004

CLEMSON - The wide receiver rotation for Clemson's Saturday matchup with visiting Utah State appears to be shrinking by the moment.

Chansi Stuckey didn't practice again Wednesday due to a pulled hamstring. His status will be a game time decision. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Kelvin Grant missed practice with flu-like symptoms, and Gerald McCloud continues to be out with foot problems.

While both Stuckey and Grant could play Saturday, the potential to be shorthanded Saturday is at least hanging over this week's workouts.

If the game were today, the only healthy wideouts in rotation would be Airese Currie, Curtis Baham, LaDonte Harris and Michael Collins.

"Chansi couldn't do much today. It doesn't look good," Bowden said. "With Kelvin it kind of flared up real quick."

Sports Information Director Tim Bourret said Grant was being given medication and likely would be better come game time.

Elsewhere Wednesday:

- True freshman left tackle Barry Richardson played every snap last week vs. Virginia, and Bowden said that likely will be the case again this week.

Richardson took over for senior Jesse Pickens after the Florida State game. In the four games in which he's appeared this season, Pickens - the opening day starter - has seen his play participation dwindle from 76 (Wake Forest) to 66 (Georgia Tech) to 31 (Texas A&M) to 19 (Florida State).

- Former Tiger wide receiver Kevin Youngblood has been signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.

Youngblood, who had 70 catches as a senior for Clemson a year ago, was an undrafted free agent signed by Atlanta before being released in training camp.

- As Wednesday's practice ended, Bowden spoke to his team about the importance of voting in this year's election.

As he came to meet the media, he was in a fairly animated discussion with senior tailback Yusef Kelly and long snapper Geoff Rigsby. But apparently those two were the exceptions to the rule.

"You should have seen the looks I got when I asked them if they were going to watch the debate," Bowden said.

And his player's general consensus on the Presidential candidates?

"They said they (politicians) all lie," Bowden laughed.