Tag: Clemson football

Saints pick big-time Clemson wideout in Todd McShay’s first 2020 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints picked Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first 2020 NFL mock draft from ESPN senior writer Todd McShay.

[jwplayer UO045H78-ThvAeFxT]

The long 2020 NFL offseason is here, and the New Orleans Saints are hard at work in diagnosing the problems that sunk last year’s team. But that’s just one part of the job; they also have to analyze the free agency market and 2020 NFL Draft class to find the best available fits for their needs. It’s challenging to be sure, but also fun to speculate about, meaning everyone has opinions on which way the Saints should go next.

But the latest take comes from ESPN senior writer Todd McShay, who specializes in covering the NFL draft along with Mel Kiper. And McShay sees wide receiver as the clearest, most-pressing draft need for the Saints at this stage in the offseason. He’s projecting the Saints to pick Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins:

Outside of Michael Thomas, Jared Cook and Alvin Kamara, what do Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense really have in the passing game? Not much. Ted Ginn Jr. was the second-most productive wide receiver behind Thomas with just 421 yards, and the next best was Tre’Quan Smith with a measly 234 yards. Whether or not it’s Brees throwing the passes in 2020 — yeah, quarterback is a position to watch here, too — the Saints have to address that lack of depth. The 6-foot-4 Higgins can make guys miss with his strength and will come down with anything thrown near him. He averaged a hair shy of 20 yards per catch this past season for the Tigers.

Higgins is, as McShay pointed out, something of a playmaker. He’s a tall, agile receiver that might resemble a young Julio Jones, but with greater college production (Higgins has caught 25 touchdown passes in his last 30 games, while Jones scored just 15 touchdown receptions in 40 games at Alabama). He’d be a tremendous fit in the Saints offense alongside Thomas, and would do a lot to help extend the viability of Drew Brees, if he returns — or provide a welcome boost to Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill, should someone else start under center in 2020.

[lawrence-related id=27520,27389]

[vertical-gallery id=28101]

Ohio State vs. Clemson Fiesta Bowl top game of year according to ESPN

ESPN named its top 100 games of 2019, and Ohio State’s loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl took the top spot.

It was another fantastic college football season in 2019. We can look back and feel some regret for sure, but the reality is that there were a lot of really great games that made us fall in love with this game all over again, even if Ohio State didn’t quite finish the deal on the national stage.

ESPN has looked back to and named its top 100 college football games of the year, and you might suffer from some triggers when we tell you what game landed at No. 1. Yep, you guessed it. The worldwide leader in sports programming has named the Ohio State vs. Clemson matchup in the Fiesta Bowl as its top contest of 2019.

Here’s what Bill Connelly said about the game that will live on as a missed opportunity forever in Buckeye history.

It was the only game so good I decided to score it like a 12-round title fight.

It featured star moments from virtually every one of the game’s stars: Trevor Lawrence’s absurd 67-yard gallop. Justin Fields’ huge fourth-down, fourth-quarter touchdown pass. Travis Etienne’s touchdown explosions. J.K. Dobbins’ 68-yard run (followed soon after by a 64-yard run). Isaiah Simmons’ tiptoeing interception. A hurry and half-sack (later overturned) by Chase Young with Ohio State trying to seize control of the game in the second quarter.

It contained a lingering waft of controversy thanks to refs having to make two of the hardest types of calls (a less-than-100 percent-clear targeting call and a vital catch-or-no-catch ruling). That never hurts for making a lasting impression.

It gave us all the plot twists a great game should feature — a 16-0 start from Ohio State, a 21-0 run by Clemson, three second-half lead changes (with a fourth prevented only by a last-minute interception) — and on a national semifinal stage. The most talented players in the country, playing in one of the most important games, and putting on a lasting show. Can’t ask for much more than that from college football.

The game was definitely entertaining, and I’m sure all the rest of the country loved watching it. As for me and I’m sure a large contingent of Buckeye fans, it left me a little sick to my stomach.

Hopefully there’s jubilation to remember next time Ohio State is put in the same position. But yeah, you have to agree with Connelly on this one — it was a highly entertaining game with drama and intrigue. Especially as an unbiased observer.

 

Ryan Day vows to use Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson as motivation

Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day spoke to the Value City Arena crowd Thursday night and vowed to use the Clemson loss as motivation.

The Ohio State football team accomplished an awful lot this past season. It went undefeated during the regular season, won the Big Ten Championship, beat its arch-rivals for the seventh straight time. and appeared in the College Football Playoff. That’s a good year no matter how you slice it.

But it ultimately finished short on the goal of winning a national championship. Making the final four in any season is great, but when you get there, there’s still work to do. The Buckeyes laid it on Clemson early in the game and raced out to a 16-0 lead, but then some breaks and momentum plays went the wrong way.

At the end of it, Ohio State was left asking “what if” as celebration ensued on the Clemson sideline after a flukey interception in the end zone to seal it. The Buckeyes outgained, out possessed and outplayed the Tigers for a majority of the game, but the final score of 29-23 is all that mattered in the end.

If you think it was a turn the page type of affair, then you were sadly mistaken. Head coach Ryan Day and the football team was honored at halftime of the game against Minnesota on Thursday and Day made it clear how he felt about what happened in the desert night out in Arizona.

“That game out there in Arizona didn’t sit well with any of us,” said Day to the Value City Arena crowd. “I just want everybody to know in the room right here — that game did not sit well with us. And you have my word we’re not going to forget about that game. And our guys have already been working hard, working hard with coach Mick (Marotti), and we’re going to do everything we can to keep that game in the back of our minds so next year we come back even stronger.”

You can get a listen to his comments to the crowd below thanks to the Twitter feed of Colin Hass-Hill.

You tell ’em Day. Sometimes there’s nothing like failure to spur a team on to greater heights. Some of our best lessons in life are learned through defeat. Not only is Day preaching about remembering what happened in the Fiesta Bowl, but the staff has also installed a sign in the weight room with the final score emblazoned on it.

Hopefully it all works as motivation towards an even bigger year in 2020.

 

Clemson Will Play at Notre Dame After Bye Week

Some Notre Dame fans may be upset about the fact Clemson gets an extra week to prepare and get healthy for Notre Dame.

The ACC announced its schedule for the 2020 football season on Wednesday morning and Notre Dame fans probably aren’t going to be too happy.

That is because the marquee opponent of 2020, the defending national runner up and the team that figures to be a runaway number one entering the season will be coming off their bye week when they play at Notre Dame in November 7.

That’s right, the Clemson Tigers will play Syracuse on October 24, have a bye week on Halloween weekend and then come to Notre Dame on November 7.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame will play host to Duke on Halloween before welcoming Clemson to Notre Dame Stadium for only the second time ever a week later.

Are you surprised?

I’m not but I’m not upset about it, either.

You may recall that Notre Dame played seven teams coming off a bye week last year and went 7-0 in such games. Meanwhile the Irish went 1-1 after the bye in 2019 including the debacle at Michigan to end October.

To me that’s life as an independent. When you say you embrace getting everyone else’s best shots that doesn’t just for middle of the road squads who play their best game of the year against you.

It goes for the elite programs like Clemson as well.

Don’t make excuses, make plays.

Get me to November already!

Notre Dame’s 2020 O-Line Loaded with Talent in PFF’s Eyes

did anyone else catch a theme that seemed to fit perfectly into the 2019 Notre Dame offense?

When the 2020 college football season arrives Notre Dame will enter it with one of the most-experienced offensive lines in the entire country.

Common sense tells you about the experience but according to Pro Football Focus, the amount of talent should be near an elite level as well.  Let’s examine what they had to say Monday when they ranked the“30 Best Returning Offensive Linemen” and why I’m still a bit skeptical of the unit overall.

Here’s what they had to say as they ranked four Notre Dame linemen in their top 30, more than any other school.  For comparison only Kentucky even had three while Air Force and BYU both had a pair of representitives.

Here’s who PFF ranked from Notre Dame in their top 30 and what they had to say about each – read it and then see if you can guess why I’m still a bit concerned:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Clemson defensive weapon Isaiah Simmons declares for 2020 NFL draft

Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

One of the most versatile and dynamic defenders in all of college football is making the early jump to the pro ranks.

Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft. He made his announcement via social media Saturday.

A rare athlete, Simmons has been deployed by a Tigers at nearly every position on defense, with a high level of success no matter what he’s asked to do. While some may view his skill set as a reason to question his fit at the next level, any NFL defensive coordinator worth his whistle will be able to take advantage of his playmaking ability, no matter where he lines up.

Simmons should light up the NFL Scouting Combine, and could lock himself in as a top-10 pick.

[vertical-gallery id=612081]

Clemson CB A.J. Terrell declares for 2020 NFL draft

Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

View this post on Instagram

Blessed…🙏🏽

A post shared by Aundell Terrell Jr (AJ) (@ajterrell_8) on

One of the best cornerbacks in college football is making the early jump to the pro ranks.

Clemson’s A.J. Terrell is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft. He made his announcement via social media Friday.

Coming off yet another trip to the College Football Playoff and the National Championship Game, Terrell helped lead one of the nation’s most talented defenses. His combination of size, length and athleticism should make him one of the first players off the board at his position. Terrell should come off the board on Day 2, at the latest, when draft weekend rolls around.

[vertical-gallery id=612081]

Trevor Lawrence supports Clemson backup QB’s decision to transfer: ‘Love you dude’

Clemson backup quarterback Chase Brice plans to transfer from Clemson for his final years of eligibility.

In the days since LSU beat Clemson in the national championship game, there have been significant changes to both teams’ rosters and coaching staffs. And that now includes Clemson backup quarterback Chase Brice moving on.

The Tigers’ backup, a redshirt sophomore, announced Thursday on Twitter than he plans to transfer to another program with two years of eligibility remaining. However, Brice is a grad transfer, meaning he’ll be eligible to play immediately in the 2020-21 season.

In a lengthy post on Twitter, Brice thanked his teammates, coaches, fans and family, calling his time at Clemson “the best three years of my life” and saying he’ll “always be proud to have been a Clemson Tiger.” He wrote, in part:

“During my time at Clemson, I’ve wanted to stay the course and be the best quarterback, best competitor, best student, best person and best teammate I could be and tried to represent the Clemson Family with as much class and character as I possibly could. And while it’s both exciting and sad to say, today, I’m announcing my intention to transfer from Clemson and continue my college football career elsewhere.”

Reacting to the news, Lawrence surely understands why Brice is transferring. Lawrence will be at Clemson for at least one more year, and, as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, it doesn’t seem like anyone can steal that starting position away from him.

So in response, Lawrence tweeted his support for Brice, even if he’s sad about the move.

After redshirting in 2017, Brice has been starter Trevor Lawrence’s backup for most of the last two seasons. (He was also behind former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who lost his starting job to Lawrence and transferred after the 2018 season.) And because of that, he really hasn’t played much.

He threw for a season-high 106 yards and ran for his only touchdown of the season in the Tigers’ dominant win over Virginia in the ACC championship game.

But perhaps his most memorable game in his brief time at Clemson is from 2018 when he stepped in to help lead the team to a four-point win over Syracuse. At that point, Bryant had announced his plans to transfer after the first four games of the season — he was still eligible to redshirt that year — and Lawrence was injured in the first half against the Orange. So Brice came in.

While it was far from a perfect game — he went 7-for-13 for 83 yards and an interception — he helped Clemson rally in the comeback win, as the Tigers remained undefeated in what turned out to be a 15-0 national championship year.

[jwplayer KcV8sRdg-q2aasYxh]

[vertical-gallery id=880431]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]

Clemson WR Tee Higgins declares for 2020 NFL draft

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

One of the top wide receivers in college football is leaving school early to jump to the pro ranks.

Clemson’s Tee Higgins is foregoing his remaining eligibility and will declare for the 2020 NFL draft. He announced his intentions via social media Wednesday.

A dynamic pass-catcher with a rare combination of size, length, athleticism and body control, Higgins is widely considered to be one of the top receiver prospects in this year’s draft class. He should be a first-round pick come April, and has the skill set to quickly become a top target for any NFL team.

[vertical-gallery id=611925]

BAMA BEAT: Recapping the LSU-Clemson national championship (Ep. 292)

Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson break down the national championship between LSU and Clemson, then focus on what other top programs are losing.

Cecil Hurt and Clint Lamb, through TideSports.com and The Tuscaloosa News, produce a podcast called “The ‘Bama Beat”, which features all the latest news and analysis surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In this episode, Lamb sits down with TideSports.com beat writer Brett Hudson to break down the national championship between LSU and Clemson, the final college football game of the 2019 season.

Afterwards, the two then focus on what other top programs are losing from a personnel standpoint.

 [protected-iframe id=”75daf75c125c106b58270b144d2b796d-162776958-84624375″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-bama-beat/recapping-the-lsu-clemson-national-championship-th/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

[protected-iframe id=”ed6defb6a1b9987c89fe18dbc1bd61d7-162776958-84624375″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-bama-beat/playlists/podcast/embed?style=artwork” width=”100%” height=”500″ frameborder=”0″]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]