The dog days of summer are upon us. To help pass the time, the staff at The Clemson Insider is picking sides.
Along with publisher Robert MacRae, staff writers Will Vandervort, William Qualkinbush and Hale McGranahan are drafting players from the Clemson roster to fill out their own teams.
Here’s how the fifth round of the TCI Open Draft played out:
William Qualkinbush
Fifth round (17th overall) – [autotag]Ray Ray McCloud[/autotag], WR (5-9, 175)
I’m not convinced this isn’t a significant reach as far as talent is concerned. There may be other players whose combination of talent, experience, and versatility is superior. I don’t care, though—I absolutely LOVE this kid.
Think about the vast number of things we can do with McCloud as the centerpiece of the offense. The jet sweep is alive and well. The read option with jet or orbit action and the possibility of Watson keeping the ball would be unstoppable. He can stretch the field, and he can catch the ball.
Simply put, he can play all 3 receiver positions or running back at any given time. Even though McCloud is just a freshman, I’m not afraid to make him the focal point of my attack.
Gallman’s performance in the spring only in enhanced his status as the Tigers best running back as he separated himself just enough to be named the starter heading into the fall. I also like Gallman’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and he improved in pass protection, though that is still his one main weakness.
Robert MacRae
Fourth round (18th overall) Jordan Leggett TE (6-5, 250)
With the No. 18 pick I continue to add to my impressive list of playmakers. Leggett now joins Artavis Scott, Mike Williams and Deon Cain.
Leggett is clearly the No. 1 tight end right now by a wide margin. He has the tools to be a major playmaker and have a monster season this year, if he is focused on being a great player. Leggett has battled injuries over the past few years. If he can stay focused he will be a major weapon for the Clemson offense.
The only way Leggett doesn’t have a monster season is if he is not All In this year.
Hale McGranahan
Fifth round (19th overall) Charone Peake WR (6-2, 205)
At this point in the draft, there were two candidates for my No. 1 wide receiver spot. Charone Peake got the nod, mostly because I didn’t want to build my group around someone who’s under 6-feet tall.Peake has been hampered by injuries through much of his career. And while he’s still got the size and length to be a quality target, it remains to be seen if the injuries have taken away some of his ability to make big, chunk plays.
Off the field, Peake is relatively quiet, soft-spoken guy. He seems kind of stoic. His disposition on the field is way different. He’s fiery, emotional and can be pretty demonstrative after making a catch. I don’t mind seeing a wide receiver get excited after a catch, especially when it’s coming from a guy who’s pretty serious about his business.
Will Vandervort
Fifth round (20th overall) – Milan Richard TE(6-2, 245)
He shares the same blood line as Hershel Walker. Do I need to say anything else?
Richard, as a redshirt freshman, is already as big as Dwayne Allen was as a junior. His ceiling is higher than any other tight end on the squad. He can play as an H-Back or as a true tight end. Like Allen, he has the speed and athleticism to get deep, while also the strength to stay in and block.
Coming out of high school, he was the No. 2 rated tight end in the country after he caught 78 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year. His mother and father were both hurdlers at the University of Georgia and his uncle is Heisman Trophy running back Hershel Walker.
Richard had a great redshirt season where he got big and stronger in the Power Hour sessions, and then was having a good spring before suffering a major sprained ankle in the second week of practice. In my opinion, he is the best tight end on the team.
Current Rosters
William Qualkinbush
(1) DeShaun Watson
(2) Ben Boulware
(3) DJ Reader
(4) Korrin Wiggins
(5) Ray Ray McCloud
Robert MacRae
(1) Artavis Scott
(2) Mike Williams
(3) Deon Cain
(4) Christian Wilkins
(5) Jordan Leggett
Hale McGranahan
(1) MacKensie Alexander
(2) Isaiah Battle
(3) Jayron Kearse
(4) Carlos Watkins
(5) Charone Peake
Will Vandervort
(1) Shaq Lawson
(2) Kelly Bryant
(3) Mitch Hyatt
(4) Wayne Gallman
(5) Milan Richard