Mickey Plyler's Blog for April 24

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Sun Apr 23 16:15:27 GMT-04:00 2006

Mickey's new Blog brought to you by:

and

864-834-6060

Thank you for being a Tiger Source member. Mickey's blog will be released to Tiger Source members first.

My numbers for scholarships may be off by one or two but I currently have 86 players on scholarship for the Tigers. They will have to get down to 85 by August but that will not be a problem.

I have decided to rank each player in his overall value to the 2006 team from 1-86. These numbers will change often but here is a stab at the list.

I am sure you will have some guys higher and some lower and remember this is supposed to be fun. I have included a comment about each player’s ranking.

Clemson Football Top Rankings 20-1

20. RB Reggie Merriweather-The forgotten man in this offense will not just step aside and watch Spiller take his spot. There is still a big role for Merriweather in this offense.

19. OL Dustin Fry-Big solid leader of the offensive line. It is his steadiness that links this OL. Lack of flexibility hurts but his strength helps.

18. OL Marion Dukes-Solid RT. Dukes has played a ton of snaps and has proven to be very dependable.

17. OL Roman Fry-Versatility is his game. Roman’s leadership is just as important as his ability.

16. OL Nathan Bennett-Tough and talented OL. He has shown signs of brilliance and signs of immaturity.

15. QB Will Proctor-We like Proctor in this offense. He could have a very big senior season. 14. Tremaine Billie-The fastest of the linebackers who needs to be more of a playmaker and more consistent.

13. LB Nick Watkins-Great cover guy at LB. Watkins is underrated.

12. DL Dorrell Scott-He came on very strong late last year. If he continues to progress then you can’t say enough about his future.

11. DL Rashaad Jackson-His motor never stops. Jackson is an effort guy with good ability. No one plays harder.

10. WR Aaron Kelly-He can be as good as he wants to be. Kelly showed signs of dominated as a freshman. If he continues to develop at this pace then the sky is the limit.

9. DB Michael Hamlin-No one would Hamlin as high as me but I like this kid. I think he is a great young man who will only keep getting better. I think the free safety is a huge part of any defense and Hamlin will keep getting better.

8. WR Rendrick Taylor-Before the spring he would have been in the 20s. Now he is Superman. Taylor is perhaps the fastest riser on this football team.

Everything is there for a huge sophomore year.

7. OL Barry Richardson-Big Barry is ultra-talented. If his motor ran a little faster than he is the proto-typical NFL tackle. He can be as good as he wants to be as well.

6. DL Phillip Merling-Speaking of motor…Merling plays like Rashaad Jackson. He goes every down on every play. He is a better athlete than Charles Bennett.

Merling does not care if it is spring practice or the FSU game, he will play hard.

5. K Jad Dean-He has evolved into one of the nation’s finest place-kickers.

Dean has made game-winning kicks and has proven to be consistent.

4. WR Chansi Stuckey-His big-play ability and open-field ability are huge to this football team. Every team needs an open field game breaker and Stuckey is that guy.

3. RB James Davis-He has a plan and is a very serious football player. Davis has great vision and that is a key in the zone-blocking scheme. If he continues to advance his game then this program is ready to take off.

2. DE Gaines Adams-Ask FSU, USC and Colorado coaches who the number-one Tiger is and they will say Gaines Adams. Great pass rusher. Very intelligent football player. He reads screens and makes plays on the perimeter.

1. LB Anthony Waters-Ask his coaches and teammates and they will tell you Anthony Waters is the number-one Tiger. Waters is the leader on the field and off. No one player is more valuable to this team than Waters.

Part 1 - Rankings 86-45

Part 2 - Rankings 66-44

Part 3 - Rankings 43-20

We would love to have some feedback with those players you would have ranked higher and lower.

Also, please visit our sponsors, Mr. Knickerbockers and George Coleman Ford. It is their patronage that keeps the blog free. We are adding more sponsors for this month as well. If you are interested in great advertising opportunities on the blog contact me @ mickey.plyler@tigernet.com