Playing time breakdown: Clemson features freshmen in opener

Justyn Ross was among the freshmen leaders in snaps.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Tue Sep 04 14:49:43 GMT-04:00 2018

Clemson’s opener featured a number of Tigers getting their first dose of major playing time and plenty of debuts as well.

One area we’ll track this year comes with the new NCAA redshirt rule, where freshmen are allowed to play at least four games and still preserve four full seasons of eligibility.

Some contributors set to play each game are no-brainers, but in the opener, Clemson played 11 of its 16 true freshmen scholarship players - leaving some more development off the field for QB Ben Batson, DT Darnell Jefferies, DE Justin Mascoll and LBs Mike Jones Jr. and Jake Venables in week one.

Of the freshman group, offensive freshmen camp standouts Trevor Lawrence (28) and Justyn Ross (17) played the most. Five-star freshman DE Xavier Thomas tallied two stops, including one for loss, in 10 snaps.

In all, 18 scholarship true and redshirt freshmen on the depth chart saw action Saturday.

New starter Isaiah Simmons logged the third-most snaps of any defender and totaled a team-leading six tackles.

Clemson rotated in 13 different offensive linemen, which was one more than the defensive linemen group (12).

Here’s a look at week one on the Clemson participation report:

Clemson snaps breakdown: Furman

(Players assigned positionally by place on the depth chart; the initial participation report is provided by Clemson and represents non-special teams snaps; this breakdown notes all depth chart contributors and select scholarship players)

Offense (34)

Quarterback (3): Kelly Bryant 31, Trevor Lawrence 28, Chase Brice 11,

Running Back (4): Travis Etienne 33, Adam Choice 14, Lyn-J Dixon 10, Tavien Feaster 7.

Wide Receiver (10): Amari Rodgers 32, Tee Higgins 30, Hunter Renfrow 29, Diondre Overton 20, Cornell Powell 19, Trevion Thompson 18, Justyn Ross 17, Derion Kendrick 16, T.J. Chase 14, Will Swinney 8.

Tight end (4): Garrett Williams 43, Braden Galloway 10, Cannon Smith 10, J.C. Chalk 9,

Offensive Line (13): Mitch Hyatt 49, John Simpson 49, Tremayne Anchrum 49, Sean Pollard 45, Justin Falcinelli 41, Cade Stewart 23, Gage Cervenka 22, Jackson Carman 18, Matt Bockhorst 18, Blake Vinson 11, Zach Giella 8, Chandler Reeves 8, Jordan McFadden 6.

Defense (33)

Defensive End (5): Clelin Ferrell 36, Austin Bryant 35, Justin Foster 21, K.J. Henry 13, Xavier Thomas 10.

Defensive Tackle (7): Nyles Pinckney 26, Dexter Lawrence 26, Christian Wilkins 25, Albert Huggins 23, Xavier Kelly 18, Logan Rudolph 15, Jordan Williams 11.

Linebacker (10): Isaiah Simmons 35, Kendall Joseph 31, Tre Lamar 26, Shaq Smith 25, Jalen Williams 20, J.D. Davis 17, Judah Davis 11, Chad Smith 11, Baylon Spector 10, Regan Upshaw 8.

DB (CB/S/NB - 11): Trayvon Mullen 39, A.J. Terrell 35, K’Von Wallace 30, Tanner Muse 29, Nolan Turner 27, Denzel Johnson 26, Mark Fields 19, LeAnthony Williams 18, Mario Goodrich 14, Kyle Cote 6, Kyler McMichael 6,

Did not play (non-true freshmen): LB James Skalski*, CB Brian Dawkins Jr, DE Chris Register, TE Milan Richard, OL Noah DeHond.

True freshmen participation (11): Xavier Thomas 1 game, Justyn Ross 1, Derion Kendrick 1, Mario Goodrich 1, Jordan McFadden 1, K.J. Henry 1, Kyler McMichael 1, Lyn-J Dixon 1, B.T. Potter 1, Trevor Lawrence 1, Braden Galloway 1, Darnell Jefferies (0), Jake Venables (0), Ben Batson (0), Mike Jones Jr. (0), Justin Mascoll (0).

* True sophomore expected to redshirt.