By Will Vandervort / Photo courtesy Clemson University.
Today we continue our countdown on who are Clemson’s Most Important Players for 2014.
Don’t get this confused by who are the best. Some of these guys on the list might be the best at their respected positions, but this list concentrates on which players are the most important to the Tigers’ overall success this coming fall.
This list takes into account Clemson’s strengths and weaknesses, depth at certain positions and the importance at each position.
5. Ammon Lakip, 5-10, 200, Jr. – Lakip has kicked in just seven games and is 1-2 on field goal attempts and is 8-8 on PAT tries.
Why is he vital? He is expected to replace one of the best kickers to have ever played at Clemson. Chandler Catanzaro was the most accurate kicker in Clemson history and ended his college career as the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer. Catanzaro left Clemson as the owner of 10 school records and made 39 of his last 41 kicks over the last three seasons.
Quotable: “We just lost one of the best kickers in the history of the school, maybe the best. That’s a big loss. That position is very critical.” –Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney
Best case: Lakip comes out and kicks the game-winning field goal to beat Georgia in Athens and his career takes off in the same way it did for former kicker David Treadwell after he beat the Bulldogs in 1986 with a game-winning field goal as time ran out.
Worst Case: Lakip struggles against Georgia and loses his confidence. In the process it causes the Tigers to lose a couple of games along the way. Punter Bradley Pinion, who is listed as the Tigers’ backup kicker heading into fall camp, has to take over midway through the season.
Final word: Odds are Lakip will struggle a little bit because the junior has not kicked in a pressure situation before. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to Lakip so Swinney will have to show a little patience. If you pull a kicker too early or are critical too early and too much, it can cause him to lose his confidence forever. If you don’t believe me, just go ask former Clemson kicker Jad Dean. Swinney said after spring practices were over that Lakip did an excellent job and he has confidence that he can step up and fill the void left by Catanzaro.