Football season is underway as the Tigers prepare for a run at another championship. Heated battles remain at a number of positions.
Each week TCI will look at the players moving up and those that are moving down in the Up Downs feature. Which players are elevating their game and their position on the depth chart?
Up
C.J. Davidson – With Zac Brooks out for the season with injury C.J. Davidson could be the big winner. Davidson will now move into the No. 2 spot on the running back depth chart. There are some that feel C.J. is the most talented of the experienced backs on campus. Davidson will be given more opportunities now to earn significant playing time.
Adam Choice – Another player that will be provided more opportunities with Brooks injury is Adam Choice. Dabo made it official this week that Adam will now play this season and will in fact play against Georgia. Choice could be the most talented back on campus. He will now get his opportunity to prove it and to earn more playing time as the season progresses.
Korrin Wiggins – One of the fiercest battles during camp was at the SAM position. It looks like Wiggins may have won the battle for now, or at least played well enough to earn significant playing time at the position. Blanks decision to possibly redshirt certainly helps Wiggins as well. Korrin played well at times last season when given an opportunity as a true freshmen. This battle will go into the season, but Korrin is in a good position heading into the Georgia game.
Tyrone Crowder – With Anthony’s transfer both Kalon Davis and Eric Mac Lain will have to do time at both guard and tackle. This will mean Crowder may see more playing time at guard. Crowder had a great camp and will be positioned to see more playing time this season now if Davis or Mac Lain have to help at tackle.
Charone Peake – Charone is certainly a starter when healthy, but the big question during August is would he be healthy in time for the Georgia game. The results were good last week. Peake could be the next great receiver for the Tigers. Many forget that he was a 5-star in some of the rankings coming out of high school. Last year he was starting to play like at that level before going down with injury. Hopefully Peake can stay healthy and finally have the season he has been waiting for in 2014.
Downs
Shaq Anthony – Shaq Anthony shocked many this week when he announced the he will transfer from Clemson. Anthony was suspended for the Georgia game, but has previously started for the Tigers and was expected to provide some much needed depth at tackle. His decision will cause Kalon Davis and some others to have to spend time splitting time this year in practice between guard and tackle.
Travis Blanks– Travis approached the coaches earlier in camp about possibly redshirting this season. A final decision won’t be made for a few weeks until the staff sees how the SAM position is going with the others on the depth chart. Blanks is not back to 100 percent and feels like he and the team would benefit by him redshirting and letting others play this season. It was a classy move by a classy young man. It could be a move that pays big dividends in the future.