Playing time breakdown: Top-15 matchup pares down Clemson rotation

Travis Etienne played double the snaps of the next nearest Tigers RB.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Mon Sep 09 14:18:29 GMT-04:00 2019

A closer contest in Death Valley meant a tighter rotation on both sides of the ball for Clemson.

In terms of scholarship players (non-specialists), just 45 Tigers played on offense or defense after 65 saw action in the Georgia Tech game.

Of Clemson’s big freshman class, only six saw the field with starter Tyler Davis and then Frank Ladson Jr., Andrew Booth, Joseph Ngata, Davis Allen and Kane Patterson.

The personnel packages featuring more defensive backs were evident in the snap count, with A.J. Terrell (69), Tanner Muse (69), K’Von Wallace (69) and Derion Kendrick (55) all north of 50 plays. Nolan Turner got in on a forced fumble and a couple pass breakups in a career-high 43 snaps.

After an even distribution in the opener, the top-15 matchup meant more Xavier Thomas, logging 11 more snaps than the next D-end (43). More three-down looks upfront also meant less of a defensive tackle rotation, with Tyler Davis leading all D-linemen with 44 snaps, Nyles Pinckney next (27), then Jordan Williams (11) and Darnell Jefferies (5).

Redshirt freshman linebacker Jake Venables saw his most competitive action with 12 snaps, logging three tackles.

On offense, Amari Rodgers returned to the mix and played the third-most plays in the receiver group (34), splitting evenly with co-starter Diondre Overton (31).

The biggest difference in the number players on the field came with the offensive linemen, with the Tigers fielding half of the number they did versus Georgia Tech (7). Jackson Carman played a career-high 72 snaps and Matt Bockhorst (32) and Cade Stewart (16) were the two reserves who got in the mix.

Clemson snaps breakdown: Texas A&M

(Players' snaps 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 (24)

Quarterback (2): Trevor Lawrence 71 (123), Chase Brice 1 (20).

Running Back (3): Travis Etienne 45 (77), Lyn-J Dixon 21 (36), Darien Rencher 2 (10).

Wide Receiver (9): Justyn Ross 49 (86), Tee Higgins 44 (81), Amari Rodgers 34 (34), Diondre Overton 31 (64), Joe Ngata 29 (60), Frank Ladson Jr. 21 (33), Cornell Powell 8 (30), T.J. Chase 6 (23), Will Swinney 4 (16).

Tight end (3): JC Chalk 45 (78), Davis Allen 5 (18), Luke Price 13 (23),

Offensive Line (7): Tremayne Anchrum 72 (120), Jackson Carman 72 (116), John Simpson 66 (111), Sean Pollard 57 (104), Gage Cervenka 46 (78), Matt Bockhorst 32 (74), Cade Stewart 16 (32).

Defense (21)

Defensive End (5): Xavier Thomas 43 (67), Justin Foster 32 (55), Logan Rudolph 29 (54), K.J. Henry 21 (49), Justin Mascoll 11 (38).

Defensive Tackle (4): Tyler Davis 44 (71), Nyles Pinckney 27 (50), Jordan Williams 11 (38), Darnell Jefferies 5 (23).

Linebacker (5) Isaiah Simmons 69 (119), James Skalski 57 (102), Chad Smith 41 (79), Baylon Spector 26 (49), Jake Venables 12 (31).

DB (CB/S/NB - 7): A.J. Terrell 69 (110), Tanner Muse 69 (103), K’Von Wallace 69 (97), Derion Kendrick 55 (93), Nolan Turner 43 (72), Mario Goodrich 17 (39), Denzel Johnson 7 (40).

Special teams-only**: LB Mike Jones Jr. (11), CB Andrew Booth (9), LB Kane Patterson.

Did not play: OT Jordan McFadden (41), OL Blake Vinson (26), OL Chandler Reeves (25), DT Xavier Kelly (21), OL Will Putnam (16), RB Michel Dukes (13), WR Brannon Spector (12), QB Taisun Phommachanh (11), RB Chez Mellusi (11), CB Sheridan Jones (11), OL Hunter Rayburn (10), TE Jaelyn Lay (10), DL Ruke Orhorhoro (8), CB LeAnthony Williams (6), OL Kaleb Boateng (4), OL Mason Trotter (4), Keith Maguire (3), S Lannden Zanders (3), S Joseph Charleston (3) S,Jalyn Phillips 3, Brian Dawkins Jr., LB LaVonta Bentley, S Ray Thornton.

True freshmen participation*: DT Tyler Davis (2), CB Andrew Booth (2), WR Frank Ladson Jr. (2), WR Joseph Ngata (2), TE Davis Allen (2), LB Kane Patterson (2), CB Sheridan Jones (1), LB LaVonta Bentley (1), TE Jaelyn Lay (1), S Joseph Charleston (1), WR Brannon Spector (1) LB Keith Maguire (1), RB Chez Mellusi (1), RB Michel Dukes (1), DL Ruke Orhorhoro (1), DB Jalyn Phillips (1), OL Will Putnam (1), OL Hunter Rayburn (1), DB Ray Thornton (1), OL Mason Trotter (1), S Lannden Zanders (1), LB Bryton Constantin% (0), DT Tayquon Johnson (0), DL Etinosa Reuben (0), DE Greg Williams (0), P Aidan Swanson (0).

* Scholarship

** Non-specialists

% Injured