Playing time breakdown: Clemson football through two games

Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence saw a similar number of possessions early, but Bryant ended up more than doubling Lawrence's snaps.

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Mon Sep 10 20:22:10 GMT-05:00 2018

No. 2 Clemson's first road trip gave a glimpse into two-deep and who has earned playing time in key situations.

Although they split possessions through the third quarter, Kelly Bryant came out with 44 snaps to Trevor Lawrence's 16 in the 28-26 win at Texas A&M. Lawrence threw a 64-yard touchdown pass on his first play of the game and then saw one first down in the next four possessions, which all ended in punts (min. 3 plays).

The running back snap distribution shows a clear one in Travis Etienne (32), then two, in senior Adam Choice (20), and further back, three, in Tavien Feaster (6).

Receiver held pretty closely to the shares in the Furman opener, with the starting trio of Tee Higgins (51), Amari Rodgers (48) and Hunter Renfrow (43) well out front. The totals were both career-highs for Higgins and Rodgers, who combined for seven catches for 196 yards with a touchdown. True freshmen receivers Justyn Ross and Derion Kendrick combined for three snaps without a target.

After playing 13 offensive linemen the week before, that group pared down to six with multiple snaps, with Cade Stewart a new starter at right guard but seeing just a little bit more action than incumbent Sean Pollard (34 to 26).

On defense of note, Xavier Thomas was the lone true freshman to see defensive playing time (5), while DB Kyler McMichael played on special teams.

Linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Kendall Joseph tied for most plays overall (70), but at middle linebacker, there was more of a rotation between Tre Lamar (46) and J.D. Davis (36).

At safety, Denzel Johnson made a move with 30-plus snaps for the second time in his college career and first versus an FBS opponent (32). He posted four stops and a pass breakup in the effort.

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

Clemson snaps breakdown: Texas A&M

(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 (23)

Quarterback (2): Kelly Bryant 44 (75), Trevor Lawrence 16 (44).

Running Back (3): Travis Etienne 32 (65), Adam Choice 20 (34), Tavien Feaster 6 (13).

Wide Receiver (8): Tee Higgins 51 (81), Amari Rodgers 48 (80), Hunter Renfrow 43 (72), Trevion Thompson 15 (33), Diondre Overton 7 (27), Cornell Powell 7 (26), Derion Kendrick 2 (18), Justyn Ross 1 (18).

Tight end (3): Milan Richard 54 (54), J.C. Chalk 5 (14), Cannon Smith 4 (14).

Offensive Line (7): Mitch Hyatt 60 (109), John Simpson 60 (109), Tremayne Anchrum 60 (109), Justin Falcinelli 59 (100), Cade Stewart 34 (57), Sean Pollard 26 (71), Gage Cervenka 1 (23).

Defense (21)

Defensive End (4): Clelin Ferrell 66 (102), Austin Bryant 66 (101), Justin Foster 15 (36), Xavier Thomas 5 (15).

Defensive Tackle (4): Christian Wilkins 63 (88), Dexter Lawrence 54 (80), Albert Huggins 28 (51), Nyles Pinckney 8 (34).

Linebacker (6): Isaiah Simmons 70 (105), Kendall Joseph 70 (101), Tre Lamar 46 (72), J.D. Davis 36 (53), Jalen Williams 7 (27), Shaq Smith 2 (27).

DB (CB/S/NB - 7): K’Von Wallace 66 (96), Trayvon Mullen 65 (104), A.J. Terrell 61 (96), Tanner Muse 44 (73), Denzel Johnson 32 (58), Mark Fields 28 (47), Nolan Turner 10 (37).

Special teams only: DT Xavier Kelly (18), CB LeAnthony Williams (18), DE Logan Rudolph (15), WR T.J. Chase (14), Judah Davis (11), Chad Smith (11), Baylon Spector (10), Kyler McMichael (6).

Did not play (non-true freshmen): TE Garrett Williams (43), OL Matt Bockhorst (18), QB Chase Brice (11), OL Blake Vinson (11), DT Jordan Williams (11), OL Zach Giella (8), OT Chandler Reeves (8), DE Chris Register.

True freshmen participation (6): Xavier Thomas 2 games, Trevor Lawrence 2, Justyn Ross 2, Derion Kendrick 2, Kyler McMichael 2, B.T. Potter 2, Jackson Carman DNP* (1), Mario Goodrich DNP (1), Jordan McFadden DNP (1), K.J. Henry DNP (1), Lyn-J Dixon DNP (1), Braden Galloway DNP (1), Darnell Jefferies DNP (0), Jake Venables DNP (0), Ben Batson DNP (0), Mike Jones Jr. DNP (0), Justin Mascoll DNP (0).