Tuesday January 12, 2010

The Two Year Outlook

The Two Year Outlook
I mean I am a little different when it comes to judging recruiting classes. Some say the only way to judge a recruiting class is five years after the fact and shear wins and losses tell the only story. No one can argue with that but for those that want to look at something a little sooner, I have a different approach.

While I don’t think it is fair to judge single classes, I think there is another way to judge. I think you can look two consecutive classes and get a better feel. I say this because one class is not a big enough sample size and sometimes you have to keep your numbers lower at certain positions in a single class. For example, if you only looked at Clemson’s class for this season you would say the quarterback position is a concern because the Clemson staff will not sign a signal caller this year. However, if you look at last year’s class and this year’s class you see Tajh Boyd and get a sense of relief. Also, if you bracket this year’s class and the class of 2011 then you see Tony McNeal and once again you get comforted.

So looking at a single class does not tell stories about your recruiting trends but if you bracket two classes, you have a better sense of how the future looks. So today, I want to look at this coming recruiting class in two different areas. First we will take a look at this year’s class and bracket it with last season’s recruiting class. Then we will look at this year’s class and see what needs to happen in 2011.

Quarterback
Class of 2009-Tajh Boyd
Class of 2010-None
Class of 2011- Tony McNeal Chester, SC COMMITMENT. Targets-CJ Uzomah Suwannee, GA, Justin Worley Rock Hill, SC, Everett Golston Myrtle Beach, SC, Robert Smith Dorchester, SC, Price Litton Charlotte, NC, Marquise Williams Charlotte, NC
Summary-The staff hit a home run with Boyd so again the 09-10 classes are set with this star. Also the staff feels like they have a great one on Tony McNeal committed for next season so the 10-11 classes are in good shape here. Clemson will look to sign one more quarterback next season also but Boyd and McNeal are upgrades at this key position.

Running Back
Class of 2009-Roderick McDowell
Class of 2010-Demont Buice. Targets-DJ Howard
Class of 2011-Marlin Lane Daytona Beach, FL COMMITMENT. Targets-Isiah Crowell Columbus, GA, Shon Carson Lake City, SC, Quan Bray Hogansville, GA, Julius Pendergrass Chester, SC
Summary-The 09 and 10 classes combine a speed back in McDowell and a big back in Buice. The Tigers may still bring in Auburn commitment DJ Howard this month. If McDowell is as good as believed then this will be a solid group. When looking at the 10 and 11 classes this group is set to get a tremendous upgrade. Lane could be one of the best backs to ever sign with Clemson. Georgia will be tough to beat for Crowell but Clemson has a legitimate shot at Carson and Bray.

Wide Receiver
Class of 2009-Bryce McNeal
Class of 2010-Martavis Bryant, DeAndre Hopkins, Joe Craig
Class of 2011- Targets-Charone Peake Roebuck, SC, Hakeem Flowers Greenville, SC, Maurice Harris Greensboro, NC
Summary-Clemson will need for this position to play up to their expectations soon. McNeal has a bright future and the 09 and 10 classes upgraded here with him combined with Bryant and Hopkins. The key to the 11 class will be superstar Charone Peake of Dorman. He is a potential five star prospect. This position looks like it could be a strength of the team again much like the days of Youngblood, Currie and Hamilton.

Tight End
Class of 2009-None
Class of 2010-Sam Cooper, Victor Beasley
Class of 2011- Targets-Jay Rome Valdosta, GA
Summary-Clemson did not sign a tight end this year so it was a key to get two in this class. Cooper and Beasley have a terrific chance to play early because of the depth chart. Like Peake at wide receiver, Rome is a potential five star prospect that could change the fortunes of the Tigers at tight end.

Offensive Line
Class of 2009-Brandon Thomas, JK Jay
Class of 2010-David Beasley, Timothy Gifford, Reid Webster, Kalon Davis
Class of 2011- Shaq Anthony Piedmont, SC COMMITMENT. Targets-Brandon Shell Charleston, SC, Jerome Maybank Pawley’s Island, SC
Summary-The 09 class took a hit with the career ending injury of Jay but Thomas is on track to be a starter soon. Clemson needs for Beasley and this year’s crew to be as good as advertised. The last two classes may not be much of an upgrade but that could change with the class of 2011. Anthony is one of three great offensive line prospects in the state. I would put Shell in the same category as Peake and Rome. He may be one of the top three or four players in the state next season.

Defensive End
Class of 2009-Malliciah Goodman, Darrell Smith
Class of 2010-Corey Crawford, Tavaris Barnes, Target-Dexter Morant
Class of 2011- Targets-Sterling Bailey Gainesville, GA, Roderick Byers Rock Hill, SC, Jadeveon Clowney Rock Hill, SC, Mike Rose Simpsonville, SC, Mario Sanders Greer, SC, Desmond Floyd Union, SC, Stephon Tuitt Monroe, GA
Summary-Malliciah Goodman had a good freshman season and looks to have a very bright future. The Tigers add talented prospects in Crawford and Barnes in this class. Clemson has been talented here in recent years but the past two classes have been right on the same track. Clowney is the top prospect in South Carolina in the next class but Clemson has a hard time in Rock Hill. Three Upstate pass rushers in Rose, Sanders and Floyd have a chance to gain big-time offers.

Defensive Tackle
Class of 2009-Tyler Shatley
Class of 2010-Josh Watson, Tra Thomas
Class of 2011- DeShaun Williams Central, SC COMMITMENT. Target-Phillip Dukes Manning, SC, Gabriel Wright Columbus, GA, Gerald Dixon Rock Hill, SC
Summary-Clemson is loaded with upperclassman and only signed one defensive tackle last year so they needed two bodies there in this class. The staff is high on Shatley and Watson will benefit from enrolling early. Clemson needs to hit on two or three defensive tackles next season and have a good start with Williams. Dukes is perhaps the top defensive tackle in the state and Clemson is on pretty good shape here.

Linebacker
Class of 2009-Corico Hawkins, Quandon Christian, Spencer Shuey
Class of 2010-Rickey Chaney, Jake Nicolopulos Target-Justin Parker, Ferlando Bohanna, Darius Lipford,
Class of 2011- Brandon Ellerbe Wadesboro, NC COMMITMENT. Stephone Anthony Wadesboro, NC, Lateek Townsend Bennettsville, SC, Marcus Bullard Columbia, SC, Sam Merriman Cheraw, SC, Ralph Cooper Winnsboro, SC, James Vaughters Tucker, GA, Desmond Wills Lincoln, AL.
Summary-It is hard to imagine Clemson needing a talent upgrade at this position but that is definitely the case. The 09 class looks solid with Hawkins, Christian and Shuey. The 10 class would improve significantly with a commitment from Parker. Nicolopulos is facing a comeback much more important than football at this point. It is imperative for the staff to two some home runs in the class of 2011. They really like Ellerbe and would love to add his teammate in Anthony. Townsend has been to Clemson many times and is the top linebacker in the state in this class. He will become a vital target for the 11 class because Clemson needs a talent upgrade here.

Secondary
Class of 2009-Jonathan Meeks
Class of 2010-Darius Robinson, Garry Peters, Martin Jenkins, Bashaud Breeland, Desmond Brown
Class of 2011- Cortez Davis Daytona Beach, FL COMMITMENT. Targets-DeEdward Burris Gaffney, SC, Jabriel Washington Jackson, TN
Summary-The staff hit with Meeks in the 09 class but the 10 class looks to be incredible. Charlie Haribison will have a ton of talent to work with in the coming years. Because of the big class of five defensive backs in the Class of 2010, the next class does not have the sense of urgency. However, the Tigers already have a big-time prospect committed in Davis.

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