By Will Vandervort

I’m not sure we know anything more about Clemson’s running back position than we did before the spring. Roderick McDowell appears to be the Tigers starting running back when fall camp begins, while D.J. Howard and Zac Brooks appear to be nipping on his heels.

This is the first time I can remember since James Davis came on board in 2005 that Clemson has not had a true starter at running back. The last time there was so much up in the air at this position was in 2004 when Reggie Merriweather, Duane Coleman and Kyle Browning held the position by committee.

When camp opens in the fall look for freshman Tyshon Dye of Elberton, GA to make a push for serious playing time and maybe become the starter by the end of the year. Dye, a four-star recruit, was listed as one of the top 125 players in the country by ESPN. As a senior, he rushed for 817 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in only seven games due to an injury.

Dye rushed for 1,561 yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a junior.

Here is a look at Clemson’s running backs coming out of the spring

Roderick McDowell, 5-9, 195, Sr. – McDowell, also known as Hot Rod by his teammates, is a quick and athletic back who has good vision and runs hard. He emerged as the top running back to Andre Ellington last season with 450 yards on 83 carries, while scoring five touchdowns. The biggest knock on him is his ability to carry the load. McDowell has been injury prone in his career and some wonder if he can handle the burden of 15 to 20 carries a game with his small frame.

Zac Brooks, 6-1, 185, So. –   Brooks had a good spring and might have moved into the No. 2 position behind McDowell. Ultimately, Clemson would like to see the sophomore step up and take the job from McDowell considering his raw athletic ability, while his soft hands make him a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. Brooks has to get bigger, though, and continue to get stronger. Also, he had issues understanding the offense last year and trouble picking up blitzes in pass pro. He did improve in both areas in the spring.

D.J. Howard, 5-11, 195, Jr. – Howard is the tougher back of the three. He has adequate speed, but his biggest strength is his ability to run hard and run over people. He also displays nifty footwork and can wiggle in the open space. He will not run away from anybody, but he has the ability to break long runs and move the chains. He is built more as a first and second down running back that can probably carry the ball 20 to 25 times a game if need be. However, staying healthy has been an issue, as he has suffered numerous injuries in his first three seasons.