By Heath Bradley.

By Heath Bradley

With the regular season wrapped up we will take a look at the current depth chart. We will look at who played, who redshirted, who will or will not return, and how this will determine how the Clemson coaching staff finishes its recruiting class for 2013. For the third installment we will look at the tight end/fullback.

Four seasons on the job at Clemson for Danny Pearman, four All-ACC tight ends, earlier this week Brandon Ford was named first-team All-ACC after hauling in 31 passes for 411 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight touchdowns were second most on the team only behind DeAndre Hopkins. Ford, a graduate student, will no doubt be taking his talents to the NFL as he will have completed his four years of eligibility in a Tiger uniform.

Ford is the only tight end/fullback on Clemson’s roster who will not return in 2013.

Darrell Smith, the current starting fullback/three-position, will return for his redshirt senior season in 2013. Smith, a key figure in blocking around the goal line and in run situations, will work hard this off-season to improve his hands in hopes to become a more valuable passing threat.

Sam Cooper showed flashes of being a great pass catching option, catching a big touchdown against Boston College, as well as making other key catches throughout the season. If Cooper can continue to improve his blocking he will be a great every-down tight end option for the Tigers.

The Tigers will lose Eric Mac Lain from the tight end position. The coaching staff decided earlier the year that Mac Lain would be better utilized at the offensive tackle position. This will not hurt the Tigers depth as Stanton Seckinger showed to be a viable receiving option when given the opportunity. Jay Jay McCullough, expected to be the next great Clemson tight end, will get his first opportunity in the spring after redshirting the 2012 season. McCullough has all the tools offensive coordinator Chad Morris wants in a tight end to go along with freakish athletic ability. His mixture of size and speed to go along with great hands will make him a matchup nightmare.

The Tigers also have a commitment from a great tight end in the class of 2013. Jordan Leggett, a 6-foot-6 athlete from Navarre, Fla., is currently 220 pounds, but will likely grow into a 250-pound tight end by the end of his career.

While The Tigers are losing a great player in Ford, the cupboard is definitely not bare entering 2013. Expect Cooper, Seckinger, and McCullough to pick right up where Ford left off.