2009 LB's

[PabstTiger]

Hey guys, I was just wondering about some of the linebackers in this recruiting class. Which ones do we have the best shot with? And how many do you see us taking this year? Next year? Thanks in advance, any info is always appreciated!

[03alum]

I think we have a decent shot at the guy from Ga. I believe his name in Jenkins? Hopefully, we can get back to the good ole days of having a couple of stud backers. I think maye, cooper, and hunter will get us there, but it may take a few years

[Zantetsuken]

We already have commits from Quandon Christian and Eric Fields. Christian has a really nice frame and very good upside, but is very raw and will need to bulk up. Give him a couple of years and I think he'll make an excellent linebacker. Eric Fields will have the most talent of any LB at Clemson when he gets to campus...yes, he's that good. He will be an impact player at OLB. The only downside, is both of those guys are academic worries.

Guys still on the board that we have a good chance with:
Daniel Mack - currently favoring BC, but we have a very good shot still
Corico Hawkins - strong Clemson lean and it may come down to whether we have room for him
Jarvis Jones - the silver tuna of the LB prospects...number 1 player in Georgia regardless of position. Clemson is a slight favorite, but he's looking at big-time programs like LSU, USC, Miami, and Georgia.

There are others, but those are the ones I think Clemson has a very chance with right now. With the two commitments in the boat, the comfort level the staff has with Jarvis Jones, and the way our current young guys are panning out, the staff is being very selective at this point in its LB offers.

[Tiger80]

I really think we need to get a big splash guy like Jarvis Jones to sign with us. The LBs we have on campus do not appear to be the same caliber as we have had before. Of course, we are also influenced by our memories of incredibly gifted LBs at Clemson, so I may simply be biased by that memory. I really hope our DL plays well enough to give our young LBs some time to learn their positions.

[Hopefultiger]

I think you are mistaken here man. We've got some BIG TIME guys here that are ready to break out. They are just young. Mayes really had a great spring and I'm looking for him to really bring the wood this fall. Hunter will see time as a true freshman as well. The only reason we are not saying the same thing about Rollins is that he didn't have contact this spring b/c he blew his ACL early his senior season. Check out his Jr. film... he's a stud and was actually thrown out of a game for knocking two opposing players out. The officials thought they were dirty hits, but game film showed they were clean. People are projecting him as a RS, but he'll be at full speed this fall and I think he could surprise us all. Add in Eric Fields and hopefully Jarvis Jones to the mix, and we will be sitting pretty at LB.

I do agree that our LBs have gone downhill a bit over the last decade or so. We still have good ones, just not the NASTY HEADHUNTERS we want. These guys could turn that around IMO.

[Tiger80]

HopefulTiger,

I certainly hope you are right. Our lack of experience at LB really hurt us against Auburn in OT. Of course, our so-called potent offense should have been able to put more points on the board after the defense did so well during regulation.

[GHawkins]

Picking up Jarvis Jones would be great, but I think he is Georgia's to lose.

[Zantetsuken]

Hopeful - I agree completely. Cooper is a star in the making. He made a bunch of big plays last year and at other times...seemed lost...as if he was a true freshman. Wait...he was. Cooper is a bit complacent and unmotivated, but he has star written all over him. He could easily end up an all-american if he would dedicate himself. Mayes is going to have a huge season. He's going to be a big-time player, but he will need time and there will be an adjustment period. Agree completely on both Rollins and Hunter. I think that Rollins is the most talented backer we have on campus right now, and once he's full-on and he learns the system, he'll make some noise.

Tiger80 - correct...the LB's were fooled by some of Auburn's misdirection and that's attributable to their inexperience. That will still be a problem this year, but the talent level of last year's LB to this year's isn't even close. We are MUCH more talented there...it's just a matter of getting the seasoning. Also, you are correct about the offense. The LB group just got worn down. We were so thin that we couldn't substitute, our offense did nothing, and Auburn pounded the ball. The result was our inability to stop the run in OT.

GHawkins - Georgia is the team I am LEAST worried about. Georgia has pissed Jones off (by offering other backers and accepting their commitments ahead of him). I am much more worried about Miami and LSU. Those are going to be the teams to beat. Long story short: Georgia is NOT the team to beat for Jones...we still are.

[Orange Valley]

Getting a big time LB like Jones could end up doing for our LBing recruiting what signing Davis and Spiller have done for our RB recruiting.

When you see other great players going to a school it helps to get other great players.

Bring in one and have him help to recruit others.

Remember how Davis help recruit Spiller and now we have two RBs recruiting other great RBs at Clemson.