TCI gives out helmet stickers following each game of the football season. Find out who we think deserves some love after Saturday’s 41-10 win over Appalachian State…
Deshaun Watson: The Heisman candidate wasn’t totally dialed in at the outset. He had an underwhelming first quarter that included an ill-advised interception and several attempts to extend plays that basically amounted to him holding the ball too long. Other than that, Watson was brilliant, completing more than 70 percent of his passes and tossing three touchdowns, the most impressive of which was a 60-plus yard bomb to Charone Peake that also encompassed a couple dozen yards across the field. It was the kind of “wow” play Watson didn’t have a week ago.
Charone Peake: Speaking of Peake, his first few repetitions as Mike Williams’ replacement left much to be desired. He appeared to give a half-effort to make a catch over the middle that ended up being an early interception. He was not on the same page with Watson for a while, but eventually, the two connected. Peake’s catch on a post-corner route provided Clemson its first offensive touchdown on the afternoon, then he caught a heave from Watson for a 59-yard touchdown. All in all, it was a good day for the veteran wideout.
Wayne Gallman: The Wayne Train—as public address announcer Dale Gilbert belted out over the stadium speakers—was warmed up and ready to roll against the Mountaineers. For the second straight week, Gallman did exactly what was required of him. He averaged more than five yards per carry and was able to accumulate enough intermediate runs to keep the Tigers ahead of the chains. The highlight of his day is one you might be seeing for a while, as he finished off a 23-yard touchdown run by leveling an App State defender at the goal line.
Shaq Lawson: One of the constant themes of the game was the pressure provided off the edge by Lawson. Along with the rest of the defensive line, Lawson helped make life miserable for the Mountaineers—especially in the first half. The junior end led all players with three tackles for loss and had a sack in the game. Others followed his lead, and the result was a dominating defensive front until garbage time.
T.J. Green: I took some heat—and rightfully so, I might add—for neglecting to give Green a helmet sticker after a 13-tackle performance a week ago. That same mistake will not be made twice. Green was tremendous in the back of Clemson’s defense, accounting for six tackles (including one for loss) and one pass broken up. Green’s positioning also seemed to be very good, and his instincts are advanced for a young player who initially did not want to play defensive back at the collegiate level.
Carlos Watkins: We are getting closer to the two-year anniversary of the car accident that changed Carlos Watkins’ life forever, so to see him celebrate in the end zone was rather fitting. The defensive tackle had only one tackle in the game, but that play he made after dropping into coverage helped Clemson knock off the cobwebs and get onto the scoreboard.