The Return Of Adams And Waters Vital To Success In 2006 |
In the month of January, football fans shift their focus completely to recruiting. For Clemson, recruiting is going very well. The Tigers have secured 18 verbal commitments for the class of 2006. The staff has some of nation’s top prospects remaining on the board, such as Marcus Sims, Deantwan Whitehead, or Kareem Crowell.
While any of those three players would be huge additions to Clemson’s class, the most important players Clemson will need in 2006 are already on Campus. Gaines Adams and Anthony Waters have petitioned the NFL Draft Advisory Board to see where they stand. Both players have said they will likely return to school. Should Adams and Waters return to school, they will have a far bigger impact than anyone Clemson will sign on February 1. Waters stepped into a new position this season with some big shoes to fill. Waters was coming in for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Leroy Hill. Waters excelled from day one. His impact on the defensive from a playmaker’s standpoint and a motivational standpoint cannot be measured. Adams has the potential to be one of the best edge rushers to ever play at Clemson. Adams has the size and speed than the NFL scouts love, but Adams understands he needs to become more consistent against the run before heading to the NFL. The Tigers have little depth behind Adams, as Adams was asked to play 60+ plays at times this season. Should Adams return, he would combine with Phillip Merling for one of the top defensive end tandems in the ACC. The 2006 defense has the potential to be the dominating defense head coach Tommy Bowden has looked for since he was hired. How good the defense could be hinges on the return of Waters and Adams. If Waters and Adams return to school, Clemson’s defense will put them in position to contend for an ACC title.
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