TCI gives out helmet stickers to some of the top performers in Thursday’s 20-17 victory at Louisville…
Greg Huegel
One of the main questions heading into the Louisville game was the response of Huegel, the walk-on kicker who is currently holding down the starting placekicker job until Ammon Lakip returns from suspension in a couple of weeks. The concerns about a first-time kicker going on the road in a hostile environment were valid, but Huegel answered the bell. The Blythewood native nailed both of his field goal attempts, not an insignificant thing in a three-point game. They both came in the second half, including a 27-yarder with less than ten minutes left that ended up being the game-winner.
Ben Boulware
Louisville is one of the places around the country that does not credit opposing players with quarterback hurries, for some reason. When the official stats come out next week, expect Boulware’s number to jump significantly in that category. The linebacker was an animal, picking up a half-dozen tackles and batting down a pair of passes at the line of scrimmage. More importantly, however, Boulware was able to fluster Kyle Bolin and affect his timing and positioning in the pocket. On a number of occasions, the Anderson native blew up the play from the outset, and his contributions led to five sacks and two interceptions by the Clemson defense.
Mitch Hyatt
With a pair of right tackles on the pine due to injury in the first half, backup right guard Maverick Morris had to shift over to the outside of the offensive line. This created a tough situation for true freshman left tackle Hyatt, but the youngster played exceptionally well in his first road game as a college player. In a radio interview following the game, offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell raved about Hyatt’s poise and performance in a game where line play was critical and key pieces were missing.
Cordrea Tankersley
Mackenzie Alexander steals the headlines, but it was Tankersley who made his presence felt in coverage from start to finish on Thursday night. The junior broke up two passes and grabbed an interception in Clemson’s win, effectively shutting down the side most opponents assume will be open opposite Alexander. Tankersley added six tackles, as well, and it appears he has locked down that second cornerback spot. One of his PBU’s was an outstanding diving play where he had to leave his feet to deflect the ball on a seam route, and his interception while covering a similar route.
Kevin Dodd
In his first opportunity to assert himself on the national stage, Dodd faltered last year at Georgia. He is a new man this season, as a fine performance against the Cardinals proved. Dodd had a handful of tackles and 1.5 sacks, including one on Louisville’s final drive that Dabo Swinney called the biggest one of the day. He and fellow end Shaq Lawson combined for ten tackles and three sacks in a contest that demonstrated Clemson’s defensive front has not been decimated by graduation after all.