CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clelin Ferrell matched his career-high in snaps in a 12-tackle and 5-TFL day at NC State.
Clelin Ferrell matched his career-high in snaps in a 12-tackle and 5-TFL day at NC State.

Playing time breakdown: Clemson football through nine games


by - Staff Writer -

Attrition on Clemson’s defense meant big snap counts for key starters and a shift in playing time in the back-seven against NC State.

Facing a similar wide-open offense in Syracuse two weeks prior, the Tiger defense had nine defensive backs take a snap – with seven playing 24 snaps and up and four on the field 57-plus plays.

Last Saturday, nine DBs still played – thanks to Ray Ray McCloud’s final series appearance at CB – but only five played more than 15 snaps and just three topped the 50-play count mark (Trayvon Mullen, 83; Ryan Carter, 78; Van Smith, 72).

For a second-straight week, Clemson rotated six linebackers in, coming off using only two for major snaps in the Syracuse loss (87 for Kendall Joseph; Dorian O’Daniel, 83). Tre Lamar topped 50 plays for the first time this season with a career-high 62, posting five tackles with one TFL.

* Freshman Travis Etienne led Clemson in running back snaps for the first time this season (35), ahead of Tavien Feaster (22) and C.J. Fuller (18) with Adam Choice staying on the bench. Despite the career-high play count, Etienne saw his third-most carries in a game (8) with Kelly Bryant attempting his second-most rushes of the season (20).

* McCloud’s 62 snaps combined on offense and defense don’t account for action on special teams as well. Playing in all three phases in a game is a rarity now, joining a club at Clemson most recently with Adam Humphries, who played his position at wide receiver as well as 11 snaps at cornerback and three punt returns in a 42-13 win over Wake Forest in 2012.

* Clemson’s rotation on the offensive line continued with eight linemen seeing at least 20 snaps for the third time in the last four games.

* After splitting reps with backups versus Georgia Tech, Clelin Ferrell (84) and Austin Bryant (82) each topped 80 snaps. Ferrell matched a career-high in snaps, with his most this season in a 12-stop and five-tackle for loss performance.

* Sophomore reserve defensive back K’Von Wallace stepped in with his second-most career plays (35) with a career-best five tackles, as well as two pass breakups and the game-sealing interception.

Tracking Clemson's snaps against NC State:

(Noted: Season totals in parentheses. Snaps are tracked for depth-chart contributors and select scholarship athletes. Players are listed at their positions by the week’s depth chart. The participation report is provided by Clemson.)

Offense (24)

Quarterback (1): Kelly Bryant 78 (572).

Running Back (3): Travis Etienne 35 (142), Tavien Feaster 22 (253), C.J. Fuller 18 (159).

Wide Receiver (9): Hunter Renfrow 66 (432), Deon Cain 63 (425), Ray Ray McCloud 62 (438), Trevion Thompson 23 (162), Amari Rodgers 13 (146), Diondre Overton 10 (143), Tee Higgins 10 (115), Cornell Powell 8 (94), T.J. Chase 5 (108).

Tight End (3): Milan Richard 50 (423), Cannon Smith 9 (122), D.J. Greenlee 7 (83),

Offensive Line (8): Justin Falcinelli, 83 (622), Mitch Hyatt** 80 (576), Taylor Hearn 60 (533), Tremayne Anchrum 50 (382), Tyrone Crowder 45 (417), Maverick Morris 38 (249), Sean Pollard 33 (292), John Simpson 23 (174).

Defense (20)

Defensive End (3): Clelin Ferrell 84 (495), Austin Bryant 82 (462), Chris Register 6 (143)

Defensive Tackle (4): Christian Wilkins 76 (454), Dexter Lawrence** 46 (329), Jabril Robinson 11 (164), Nyles Pinckney 10 (106).

Linebackers (6): Dorian O’Daniel 80 (481), Kendall Joseph 70 (522), Tre Lamar 62 (313), J.D. Davis 32 (175), Chad Smith 7 (75), James Skalski 2 (41).

DB (CB/S/NB - 8): Trayvon Mullen 83 (439), Ryan Carter 78 (470), Van Smith 72 (410), Tanner Muse 49 (417), K’Von Wallace 35 (239), A.J. Terrell 14 (147), Isaiah Simmons 11 (196), Amir Trapp 2 (39).

Did not play: CB Mark Fields** (246), LB Jalen Williams (127), DT Albert Huggins (106), RB Adam Choice (100), QB Zerrick Cooper (73), OL Cade Stewart (55), DT Sterling Johnson (48), DE Xavier Kelly (46), C Gage Cervenka (43), QB Hunter Johnson (40), DE Justin Foster (28), TE Shadel Bell (27), OL Chandler Reeves (25), TE J.C. Chalk (24), CB Marcus Edmond** (14), OL Zach Giella 2.

Special teams-only: LB Shaq Smith (17), S Nolan Turner (17), LB Judah Davis (15), S Denzel Johnson (9).

Can still redshirt (7): CB LeAnthony Williams, OG Matt Bockhorst, OT Blake Vinson, QB Chase Brice, OT Noah DeHond, LB Baylon Spector, DE Jordan Williams.

**Injured pregame or in-game.

Week Eight

Week Seven

Week Six

Week Five

Week Four

Week Three

Week Two

Week One

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Tags: Clemson Football, Adam Humphries, Marcus Edmond, D.J. Greenlee, Tyrone Crowder, Maverick Morris, Ryan Carter, C.J. Fuller, Trevion Thompson, Taylor Hearn, Chris Register, Cannon Smith, Milan Richard, Justin Falcinelli, Kendall Joseph, Adam Choice, Judah Davis, J.D. Davis, Jabril Robinson, Jalen Williams, Hunter Renfrow, Tanner Muse, Albert Huggins, Kelly Bryant, Mark Fields, Mitch Hyatt, Austin Bryant, Van Smith, Deon Cain, Chad Smith, Sterling Johnson, Gage Cervenka, Zach Giella, Clelin Ferrell, Amir Trapp, Christian Wilkins, Denzel Johnson, Nyles Pinckney, Dexter Lawrence, Tavien Feaster, Tre Lamar, TJ Chase, JC Chalk, Trayvon Mullen, Sean Pollard, Zerrick Cooper, Shaq Smith, Diondre Overton, Cornell Powell, John Simpson, Xavier Kelly, Tremayne Anchrum, Chandler Reeves, Isaiah Simmons, Nolan Turner, Cade Stewart, Tee Higgins, Justin Foster, Blake Vinson, Noah DeHond, Chase Brice, LeAnthony Williams, Baylon Spector, Jordan Williams, Amari Rodgers, Hunter Johnson, AJ Terrell, Matt Bockhorst, Travis Etienne
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