Playing time breakdown: Tigers rested, ready going into 'championship phase'

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Mon Nov 05 15:29:38 GMT-05:00 2018

Clemson's coordinators have their groups in a rare position this time of year.

Nine games in, Brent Venables said Monday that this was the freshest he's had with starters in terms health and snaps through nine games. Jeff Scott remarked about the rotation he has on the offensive line with 10 Tigers at 98 or more snaps on the year already, to go with 100-plus snaps for 15 more on the Clemson offensive group.

In a 77-16 win over Louisville, Clemson played 94 on the roster in all, which meant 16 starters seeing 35 or fewer snaps. Among the freshmen, Darnell Jefferies made his season debut with two snaps.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, starting WLB Kendall Joseph still played 44 snaps and led the way with 10 tackles - two for loss - with 1.5 sacks.

Taking a closer look at the game and season snaps going to Boston College:

Clemson snaps breakdown: Louisville

(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 (30)

Quarterback (2): Trevor Lawrence 32 (316), Chase Brice 18 (138).

Running Back (4): Travis Etienne 19 (271), Tavien Feaster 12 (121), Lyn-J Dixon 9 (74), Adam Choice 5 (142).

Wide Receiver (8): Justyn Ross 25 (186), Amari Rodgers 19 (325), Derion Kendrick 19 (154), Hunter Renfrow 16 (318), Diondre Overton 15 (145), Tee Higgins 14 (319), T.J. Chase 14 (119), Trevion Thompson 14 (177).

Tight end (5): Milan Richard 14 (187), Cannon Smith 10 (71), J.C. Chalk 15 (78), Garrett Williams 9 (228), Braden Galloway 7 (75).

Offensive Line (11): Mitch Hyatt 37 (495), John Simpson 33 (481), Tremayne Anchrum 33 (429), Justin Falcinelli 33 (395), Gage Cervenka 32 (271), Cade Stewart 23 (229), Zach Giella 22 (98), Jackson Carman 21 (138), Blake Vinson 20 (69), Chandler Reeves 15 (81), Jordan McFadden 8 (17).

Defense (31)

Defensive End (6): Clelin Ferrell 38 (372), Austin Bryant 35 (363), Xavier Thomas 22 (168), Justin Foster 19 (128), Logan Rudolph 18 (109), Chris Register 12 (65).

Defensive Tackle (7): Christian Wilkins 34 (317), Dexter Lawrence 31 (288), Nyles Pinckney 25 (209), Albert Huggins 21 (221), Jordan Williams 17 (105), Xavier Kelly 11 (90), Darnell Jefferies 2 (2).

Linebacker (9): Isaiah Simmons 46 (425), Kendall Joseph 44 (378), Tre Lamar 38 (316), Jalen Williams 24 (187), J.D. Davis 22 (214), Chad Smith 14 (85), Baylon Spector 11 (58), Shaq Smith 9 (91), Judah Davis 6 (54).

DB (CB/S/NB - 9): Trayvon Mullen 42 (330), Nolan Turner 41 (254), Denzel Johnson 39 (201), Tanner Muse 35 (350), K’Von Wallace 33 (382), A.J. Terrell*** 31 (419), Mario Goodrich 29 (101), Kyler McMichael 20 (97), LeAnthony Williams 12 (73).

Special teams-only: LB Mike Jones Jr. (13), LB Jake Venables (5).

Did not play (non-true freshmen): OL Sean Pollard** (321), CB Mark Fields** (216), OL Matt Bockhorst** (112), WR Cornell Powell (65)*, James Skalski* (23).

True freshmen participation (14): Xavier Thomas 9 games, Trevor Lawrence 9, Justyn Ross 9, Derion Kendrick 9, Kyler McMichael 9, B.T. Potter 9, Braden Galloway 8, Lyn-J Dixon 8, Mario Goodrich 8, Jackson Carman 7, K.J. Henry* DNP (4), Jordan McFadden 3, Ben Batson DNP (2), Jake Venables 2, Mike Jones Jr. 2, Justin Mascoll DNP (1), Darnell Jefferies 1.

* Slated for redshirt (not limited to this group but these are players who have been tagged as redshirts by coaches in media sessions)

** Missed significant time or was out due to injury.

*** Targeting ejection caused him to miss more than a half of play.

Snaps by week