By Staff Reports
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 10th round of the TCI Open Draft played out:
Will Vandervort
Tenth Round (37th overall) – Justin Falcinelli, C (6-3, 305)
With the 37th overall pick in the 10th round of the TCI Open Draft, I select redshirt freshman Justin Falcinelli.
Why Falcinelli? I need a center and he is the last one available. Also, I like what I heard from the Clemson coaches about this young man in the spring. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told us he competes his tail off, and that’s why he comes into fall camp listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Ryan Norton.
I like Falcinelli because he is also versatile. He can play right or left guard, which he might do this season to help with the depth, especially with Jay Guillermo back on the team.
Falcinelli redshirted in 2014, but he came to Clemson as the No. 12 player in the state of Maryland. He was a three-time All-State selection on the offensive line where he helped his team go 41-1 and win three straight state championships.
Hale McGranahan
Tenth Round (38th overall) – Maverick Morris OL (6-4, 295)
Let’s continue the run on offensive linemen for at least one more pick. Since those guys are going fast, I’ll go ahead and will lock up Maverick Morris, who could provide some versatility to my group.
Listed on Clemson’s depth chart as the No. 2 right guard (behind Tyrone Crowder), Morris might figure into the mix at tackle now that Isaiah Battle is off to start his professional career.
To me, the versatility is the biggest potential, plus that Morris brings to the table (real life and fantasy). With three out of my five offensive line spots occupied, it’s probably time to start looking at the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Robert MacRae
Tenth Round (39th overall) – Joe Gore OL (6-5, 290)
With the 39th pick I continue to build my offensive line with the selection of Joe Gore. Gore and Guillermo give me two of the Tigers’ starters this year for the offensive line.
Now that Battle has been released from the team, Gore is the most experienced offensive tackle on the roster. Gore has the potential to be a very solid tackle. He needs to continue to improve from last season and play at a high level consistently.
Look for Gore to step it up a notch this season and be a force at tackle. He knows the team will be counting on him this season.
William Qualkinbush
10th Round (40th overall) – Taylor Hearn, OL (6-4, 325)
I like Hearn here for three reasons. First of all, I only have one offensive lineman, and the true tackles are all gone, so I went with a guard who could potentially see some time at tackle. Second, he is a local product from a small South Carolina town (Williston), and Clemson has had great success with those types of guys in the past.
Most importantly, however, Hearn has the size to be effective on the line. He hasn’t appeared to fans yet, but Hearn is a big, thick specimen with good enough footwork and quickness to be effective at the collegiate level. He still needs more polish, but Hearn can adequately fill my need as a guard-tackle swing player.
Current rosters
William Qualkinbush
(1) DeShaun Watson
(2) Ben Boulware
(3) DJ Reader
(4) Korrin Wiggins
(5) Ray Ray McCloud
(6) Zac Brooks
(7) Albert Huggins
(8) Stanton Seckinger
(9) Ryan Norton
(10) Taylor Hearn
Robert MacRae
(1) Artavis Scott
(2) Mike Williams
(3) Deon Cain
(4) Christian Wilkins
(5) Jordan Leggett
(6) C.J. Davidson
(7) Mark Fields
(8) Travis Blanks
(9) Jay Guillermo
(10) Joe Gore
Hale McGranahan
(1) MacKensie Alexander
(2) Isaiah Battle
(3) Jayron Kearse
(4) Carlos Watkins
(5) Charone Peake
(6) B.J. Goodson
(7) Richard Yeargin
(8) Jake Fruhmorgen
(9) Eric Mac Lain
(10) Maverick Morris
Will Vandervort
(1) Shaq Lawson
(2) Kelly Bryant
(3) Mitch Hyatt
(4) Wayne Gallman
(5) Milan Richard
(6) Germone Hopper
(7) Scott Pagano
(8) Trevion Thompson
(9) Tyrone Crowder
(10) Justin Falcinelli