What happened to Clemson's depth? It's all in the numbers

Nikki Hood by Staff Writer -

ATLANTA, GA – Hang around any college football program long enough, and you’ll recognize that the atmosphere in the aftermath of any loss is usually one that leads to second-guessing, armchair quarterbacking and finger-pointing.

If it’s a particularly depressing loss, all of those events increase ten-fold, and Clemson’s loss to Georgia Tech Saturday in Atlanta was particularly galling. The big question – if recruiting has been going as well as we’ve been led to believe then how can this team and this offense be so reliant on one player?

It also leads fans to question every part of the program, including strength and conditioning and even team doctors. On the ride home, we sat and talked about the state of the Clemson program and it became evident early in the conversation that Clemson’s depth has been hurt by injuries this season, but in looking back at previous recruiting classes it also became evident that there are a significant number of recruits who are either done playing because of physical problems, have transferred out of the program or been dismissed by head coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney

Head Coach

View Full Profile .

Add in early entrants into the NFL Draft and Clemson’s depth – or lack thereof – becomes particularly noticeable. Obviously the numbers are skewed because many of the players who leave or are dismissed or have injuries have their spots taken by recruits at some point over the next two seasons.

However, many of those spots are taken by walk-ons and that was never more evident than Saturday when freshman Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson

Fr. Quarterback

#4 6-3, 204

Gainesville, GA

View Full Profile was injured. Senior Cole Stoudt Cole Stoudt

Sr. Quarterback

#18 6-4, 231

Dublin, OH

View Full Profile was ineffective, but the next three options on the depth chart are either former walk-ons or walk-ons.

A closer look at the numbers - and you can make your own decisions - but a startling 25 players from the recruiting classes from 2010-14 are either no longer with the program or have had their careers cut short by injury. When you have only 85 scholarships, that’s a big number.

Listed below are all of the players who signed with Clemson and are no longer on the Tigers roster for one reason or another. If even just a few of these were still in school it would greatly improve Clemson’s depth, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Clemson had three quarterbacks on the roster at some point over the last four years that have all transferred or been forced to retire due to injury – Morgan Roberts Morgan Roberts

RS Fr. Quarterback

#15 6-2, 200

Charlotte, NC

View Full Profile is now the starting quarterback at Yale, Tony McNeal Tony McNeal

RS Fr. Quarterback

#12 6-0, 195

Chester, SC

View Full Profile was never able to fully recover from knee injuries and Chad Kelly Chad Kelly

RS Fr. Quarterback

#11 6-2, 210

Buffalo, NY

View Full Profile was of course dismissed from the team early this year.

There are 4 wide receivers, two running backs, and six offensive linemen no longer with the Clemson program.

2010

4-star wide receiver Martavis Bryant Martavis Bryant

Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)

#1 6-5, 200

Calhoun Falls, SC

View Full Profile – declared for the NFL as a junior (signed with Clemson in 2010 but had to attend prep school)

4-star linebacker Justin Parker Justin Parker

Linebacker (2010 - 2012)

#8 6-1, 235

Port Royal, SC

View Full Profile – forced to retire due to injury

3-star defensive tackle Tra Thomas Tra Thomas

RS So. Offensive Line

#59 6-0, 275

Wadesboro, NC

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star linebacker Jake Nicolopulos Jake Nicolopulos

Linebacker

# 6-2, 220

Anderson, SC

View Full Profile – forced to retire due to illness

3-star athlete Joe Craig Joe Craig

Wide Receiver (2010 - 2011)

#81 5-10, 160

Gaffney, SC

View Full Profile – dismissed

3-star defensive back Bashaud Breeland Bashaud Breeland

(2010 - 2013)

#17 6-0, 195

Allendale, SC

View Full Profile – declared for the NFL as a junior

3-star running back Demont Buice Demont Buice

Running Back (2010 - 2011)

#24 6-1, 225

Gadsden, AL

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star safety Desmond Brown Desmond Brown

Safety (2010 - 2011)

#45 5-11, 185

Centre, AL

View Full Profile – dismissed

2-star linebacker Ricky Chaney – never enrolled

3-star offensive lineman Gifford Timothy Gifford Timothy

Offensive Tackle (2010 - 2013)

#70 6-6, 310

Middletown, DE

View Full Profile – forced to retire due to injury

2-star safety Evan McKelvey – never enrolled

2011

5-star wide receiver Sammy Watkins Sammy Watkins

Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)

#2 6-1, 205

Fort Myers, FL

View Full Profile – declared for the NFL as a junior

4-star running back Mike Bellamy Mike Bellamy

Running Back (2011)

#5 5-10, 175

Nocatee, FL

View Full Profile – dismissed

4-star linebacker Lateek Townsend Lateek Townsend

Linebacker (2011 - 2012)

#20 6-2, 215

Bennettsville, SC

View Full Profile – transferred

4-star safety Cortez Davis Cortez Davis

Cornerback (2011 - 2012)

#29 6-3, 200

Daytona Beach, FL

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star quarterback Tony McNeal – forced to retire due to injury

3-star offensive lineman Shaq Anthony Shaq Anthony

Offensive Tackle (2011 - 2014)

#76 6-4, 276

Williamston, SC

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star linebacker Colton Walls Colton Walls

Linebacker (2011)

#48 6-2, 220

Charlotte, NC

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star offensive lineman Jerome Maybank Jerome Maybank

Offensive Guard (2011 - 2013)

#72 6-3, 345

Pawleys Island, SC

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star quarterback Morgan Roberts – transferred

2012

4-star quarterback Chad Kelly – dismissed

4-star offensive lineman Patrick DeStefano Patrick DeStefano

Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)

#71 6-5, 275

Spartanburg, SC

View Full Profile – forced to retire due to injury

3-star safety Ronald Geohaghan Ronald Geohaghan

Defensive Back (2012 - 2013)

#15 6-0, 185

Orangeburg, SC

View Full Profile – transferred

3-star athlete Marty Williams – never enrolled

2-star offensive lineman Josh Brown Josh Brown

Defensive Tackle

# 6-5, 290

Aiken, SC

View Full Profile – never enrolled

2013

4-star wide receiver Kyrin Priester Kyrin Priester

Wide Receiver (2014)

#17 6-1, 186

Lilburn, GA

View Full Profile – dismissed

Add in Clemson’s injury situation this season, and it makes it even tougher to develop the depth needed to survive a season like this one. Watson and left guard David Beasley David Beasley

RS Sr. Offensive Guard

#68 6-4, 323

Columbus, GA

View Full Profile suffered knee injuries Saturday that could end their seasons, and they would join running backs Zac Brooks Zac Brooks

Jr. Running Back

#24 6-1, 199

Jonesboro, AR

View Full Profile and Adam Choice Adam Choice

Fr. Running Back

#26 5-10, 211

Thomasville, GA

View Full Profile , safety Travis Blanks Travis Blanks

Jr. Safety

#11 6-0, 210

Tallahassee, FL

View Full Profile , offensive lineman Oliver Jones and tight end D.J. Greenlee D.J. Greenlee

RS Fr. Tight End

#87 6-1, 240

Clemson, SC

View Full Profile as Tigers who have suffered season-ending injuries.

Defensive back Martin Jenkins Martin Jenkins

RS Sr. Cornerback

#14 5-9, 185

Roswell, GA

View Full Profile , center Jay Guillermo Jay Guillermo

RS So. Center

#57 6-3, 314

Maryville, TN

View Full Profile , wide receiver Charone Peake Charone Peake

RS Jr. Wide Receiver

#19 6-3, 204

Moore, SC

View Full Profile , tight end Sam Cooper Sam Cooper

RS Sr. Tight End

#86 6-6, 250

Brentwood, TN

View Full Profile and running back D.J. Howard D.J. Howard

RS Sr. Running Back

#22 6-0, 205

Lincoln, AL

View Full Profile have all missed significant playing time this season because of injury.

How bad has it been on Clemson’s offensive line the past few seasons? Tight end Eric Mac Lain Eric Mac Lain

RS Jr. Offensive Tackle

#78 6-4, 306

Hope Mills, NC

View Full Profile , tight end Zach Riggs Zach Riggs

RS Fr. Offensive Line

#54 6-4, 240

Greer, SC

View Full Profile and defensive tackle Roderick Byers were each moved over the past few seasons to the line, joining former defensive tackle Tyler Shatley Tyler Shatley

Offensive Guard (2009 - 2013)

#62 6-3, 295

Icard, NC

View Full Profile as players who were moved from other positions in an effort to create depth.

Dismissals. Injuries. Transfers. It’s all in the numbers.