Today we continue our series on the best players Clemson will face this fall. With matchups against Louisville, Miami, Notre Dame, Florida State, South Carolina and Georgia Tech on the schedule the Tigers face one of the toughest slates in the country.
So who are some of the best players the Tigers will see? Today we examine the running backs.
Dalvin Cook, Florida State
How he did last season? He rushed for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. He became the first freshman running back to run for 1,000 yards in a season.
Why is he ranked here? Florida State might have the best backfield in the ACC and Cook is one reason why. He turned the Seminoles running game around last season with big performances against Louisville, Miami and Georgia Tech. He has a good combination of speed, balance and strength.
Shadrach Thornton, NC State
How he did last season? Thornton rushed for 907 yards and scored nine touchdowns on just 164 carries.
Why is he ranked here? He led the Wolfpack in rushing by nearly 400 yards despite being used on only 32 percent of the rushing attempts.
Marcus Cox, App State
How he did last season? Cox rushed for 1,455 yards and scored 19 TDs. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 117.9 yards per carry.
Why is he ranked here? He might not be on a big-name roster at the FBS level, but he can run between the tackles, has good burst and his 79-yard run for a score last season proves he has breakaway speed.
Jon Hilliman, Boston College
How he did last season? He rushed for 860 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a freshman.
Why is he ranked here? Just a sophomore, Hilliman is considered to be one of the promising young running backs in the ACC.
Taurean Folston, Notre Dame
How he did last season? He totaled 889 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Why is he ranked here? He is the Irish’s best option for a running game that averaged 159.2 yards per game in 2014.
Brandon Radcliff, Louisville
How he did last season? He rushed for 737 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
Why they are ranked here? He averaged 97 yards a game in the last three games of the season, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the season.
Lorenzo Long, Wofford
How they did last season? Long rushed for 930 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.
Why they are ranked here? He averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2014 and his 15 touchdowns ranked among the leaders in the SoCon. It also helps he comes from an offense that runs the ball 90 percent of the time.
Patrick Skov, Georgia Tech
How he did last season? A post-graduate transfer from Stanford, Skov had 18 yards in 12 attempts and scored four touchdowns.
Why is he ranked here? He seldom carried the football. He was used as a blocking fullback in the Cardinals Power-I offense. He will be a B-back in Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense.
Gus Edwards, Miami
How he did last season? Rushed for 349 yards and had six touchdowns as a reserve to All-ACC running back Duke Johnson.
Why is he ranked here? He has the potential to be as good as Johnson, but he lacks the home run speed. He also needs to use his 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame a little more.
Devante McFarlane, Syracuse
How he did last season? Saw limited action as a reserve running back.
Why is he ranked here? He isn’t assured to be the starter once freshmen Dontae Strickland and Jordan Fredericks work their way into the mix.
Dezmond Wortham, Wake Forest
How he did last season? He rushed for 240 yards and did not score a touchdown. His 240 yards led the team, as did his 2.9 yards per carry.
Why is he ranked here? Averaging 2.9 yards per carry is not going to get it done. Wake Forest’s running game was the worst in the ACC last season.
David Williams, South Carolina
How he did last season? He rushed for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Why is he ranked here? He showed glimpses as a reserve last season and finished as the team’s third leading rusher despite carrying the ball 45 times and playing in nine games.