Playing time breakdown: Freshman impact continues to display depth

Lyn-J Dixon has had a lot of space around him on runs this season.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Wed Oct 10 07:51:27 GMT-04:00 2018

In a repeat of the trip to Atlanta two weeks prior, Clemson cleared the bench again with all 72 on the travel roster playing in a 60-point win over Wake Forest.

One of the more remarkable production-to-snap totals comes with the running backs, where the trio of Travis Etienne, Adam Choice and Lyn-J Dixon were all at 24 plays and 10 carries or less and each topped 100 rushing yards (averaging 15.8 yards per carry as a group).

Taking a look at the true freshmen, Dixon, tight end Braden Galloway and cornerback Mario Goodrich crossed the redshirt threshold with their fifth game played this season. On deck at four games-in are offensive tackle Jackson Carman and defensive end K.J. Henry (full breakdown below for freshmen).

Among rushers with at least four carries a game, Dixon ranks second nationally in yards per carry (11). Also in that freshman group, defensive end Xavier Thomas posted a career-high in TFLs (2) and tied another in stops (4) with a career-best 26 snaps Saturday.

While the snaps breakdown below organizes by place on the depth chart, Hunter Renfrow did also see three plays at quarterback with a pass for two yards and he also laid a big block downfield on Dixon’s 52-yard TD run (he also hit a punt attempt 42 yards).

Overall at midseason offensively, the snaps have been distributed proportionally by place on the depth chart.

Trevor Lawrence has now seen more than double the snaps (209) of the nearest QB left on the roster (Chase Brice: 86). Receivers Trevion Thompson (121) and Justyn Ross (107) join the starting trio in double-digit plays. Nine Tiger offensive linemen have played at least 75 snaps this year. And Etienne has more than doubled his play total from six games-in last year (188 to 74) with 42 more touches (averaging 8.9 yards per with 12 touchdowns).

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

Clemson snaps breakdown: Wake Forest

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

Offense (32)

Quarterback (3): Trevor Lawrence 54 (209), Chase Brice 12 (86), Ben Batson 3 (3).

Running Back (4): Travis Etienne 24 (188), Adam Choice 22 (103), Lyn-J Dixon 17 (45), Tavien Feaster** 7 (81).

Wide Receiver (8): Amari Rodgers 31 (243), Hunter Renfrow 31 (243), Trevion Thompson 31 (121), Tee Higgins 26 (235), Diondre Overton 26 (92), Justyn Ross 24 (107), Derion Kendrick 22 (84), T.J. Chase 15 (55).

Tight end (5): Garrett Williams 22 (166), Milan Richard 15 (143), Braden Galloway 13 (48), Cannon Smith 12 (37), J.C. Chalk 11 (41).

Offensive Line (12): Tremayne Anchrum 55 (277), Mitch Hyatt 52 (347), John Simpson 51 (337), Sean Pollard 37 (257), Justin Falcinelli 45 (299), Cade Stewart 27 (150), Gage Cervenka 24 (156), Matt Bockhorst 21 (81), Jackson Carman 20 (77), Zach Giella 13 (48), Chandler Reeves 11 (38), Blake Vinson 6 (29).

Defense (32)

Defensive End (7): Clelin Ferrell 61 (229), Austin Bryant 32 (250), Xavier Thomas 26 (97), Chris Register 21 (34), Justin Foster 17 (77), Logan Rudolph 17 (59), K.J. Henry 16 (39).

Defensive Tackle (6): Jordan Williams 38 (51), Nyles Pinckney 33 (138), Christian Wilkins 29 (217), Dexter Lawrence 23 (198), Albert Huggins 20 (148), Xavier Kelly 14 (54).

Linebacker (9): Kendall Joseph 48 (249), Isaiah Simmons 43 (279), Tre Lamar 37 (223), Jalen Williams 33 (100), J.D. Davis 20 (158), Shaq Smith 19 (67), Chad Smith 15 (44), Judah Davis 13 (31), Baylon Spector 9 (29).

DB (CB/S/NB - 10): A.J. Terrell 59 (309), Mark Fields 48 (158), Denzel Johnson 44 (140), Nolan Turner 41 (135), Tanner Muse 37 (244), K’Von Wallace 35 (273), Kyler McMichael 21 (78), Mario Goodrich 21 (36), LeAnthony Williams 7 (45), Trayvon Mullen** 2 (199).

Did not play (non-true freshmen): WR Cornell Powell (65), James Skalski* (23).

(Powell was out for an academic issue for a second-straight game)

True freshmen participation (12): Xavier Thomas 6 games, Trevor Lawrence 6, Justyn Ross 6, Derion Kendrick 6, Kyler McMichael 6, B.T. Potter 6, Braden Galloway 5, Lyn-J Dixon 5, Mario Goodrich 5, Jackson Carman 4, K.J. Henry 4, Ben Batson 1, Jordan McFadden DNP*** (1), Darnell Jefferies DNP (0), Jake Venables DNP (0), Mike Jones Jr. DNP (0), Justin Mascoll DNP (0).

* Expected to redshirt (can play in four games; has played in one).

** Missed significant time or was out due to injury.

*** Did not play.

Snaps by week