Playing time breakdown: Clemson football through 12 games

Tavien Feaster has led the Tiger running backs in snaps in eight of 11 games versus FBS opponents this season.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Mon Nov 27 21:32:20 GMT-05:00 2017

A common theme to this season has been how deep into the Clemson depth chart valuable snaps have come.

While the defensive side is still working back to full strength, over 30 scholarship contributors saw the field on offense at South Carolina, including 12 offensive linemen and five tight ends.

At this point, 25 offensive players and 22 defenders have logged 100 snaps or more – led by All-ACC center Justin Falcinelli (802). On the offensive line, eight have played 250 snaps and up.

Receiver has had one of the more consistent rotations level-to-level with the first-team all approaching 600 snaps, the second-team in the 200 snaps range and the third-team around 150. Tee Higgins leads that latter group (155), making the most of his 17 snaps last week with three catches in four targets for 84 yards.

Sophomore Tavien Feaster has notched the most playing time at running back in eight of the Tigers’ 11 FBS games, including South Carolina (32), averaging 5.3 yards per carry in those contests with four touchdowns. Travis Etienne led the way in snaps against NC State and Florida State, averaging 5.8 yards per carry with two touchdowns.

On the defensive side, eight Tigers have logged over 500 snaps this season – Clelin Ferrell (612), Dorian O’Daniel (608), Ryan Carter (590), Austin Bryant (576), Christian Wilkins (571), Kendall Joseph (566), Trayvon Mullen (563) and Van Smith (529) – but none have averaged more than 56 plays per game.

Offense (33)

Quarterback (3): Kelly Bryant 67 (755), Hunter Johnson 14 (70), Zerrick Cooper 4 (95).

Running Back (4): Tavien Feaster 32 (324), Travis Etienne 21 (204), C.J. Fuller 14 (201), Adam Choice 11 (141),

Wide Receiver (9): Hunter Renfrow 46 (559), Deon Cain 42 (557), Ray Ray McCloud 37 (557), Amari Rodgers 30 (209), Diondre Overton 27 (204), Trevion Thomson 26 (221), T.J. Chase 18 (154), Tee Higgins 17 (155), Cornell Powell 16 (138).

Tight End (5): Milan Richard 29 (511), D.J. Greenlee 25 (151), Cannon Smith 10 (160), Shadel Bell 7 (48), J.C. Chalk 5 (41).

Offensive Line (12): Justin Falcinelli 77 (802), LT Mitch Hyatt 68 (712), Taylor Hearn 61 (665), Sean Pollard 53 (444), Maverick Morris 51 (360), Tremayne Anchrum 43 (505), Tyrone Crowder 29 (507), John Simpson 22 (266), Gage Cervenka 7 (85), Cade Stewart 4 (91), Chandler Reeves 3 (53), Zach Giella 1 (28).

Defense (23)

Defensive End (4): Clelin Ferrell 39 (612), Austin Bryant 39 (576), Chris Register 19 (197), Justin Foster 9 (63).

Defensive Tackle (6): Christian Wilkins 38 (571), DT Dexter Lawrence 29 (358), Albert Huggins 15 (190), Nyles Pinckney 9 (159), Jabril Robinson 8 (188), Sterling Johnson 4 (78).

Linebackers (7): Kendall Joseph 44 (566), Dorian O’Daniel 43 (608), James Skalski 36 (117), Judah Davis 10 (51), Jalen Williams 9 (176), Shaq Smith 9 (58), J.D. Davis** 8 (271).

DB (CB/S/NB - 6): Ryan Carter 56 (590), Trayvon Mullen 56 (563), Van Smith 41 (529), K’Von Wallace 32 (344), Tanner Muse 24 (455), Isaiah Simmons 9 (230).

Did not play: LB Tre Lamar** (331), CB Mark Fields** (246), CB A.J. Terrell (206), LB Chad Smith (114), DE Xavier Kelly (69), CB Marcus Edmond (31), CB Brian Dawkins Jr. (0).

Special teams-only: CB Amir Trapp (57), S Nolan Turner (44), S Denzel Johnson (42).

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.