CLEMSON — Normally, I reserve this space to point out three players from the opposing team that Clemson fans need to pay attention to.
However, considering Clemson is playing Charleston Southern on Saturday, and is a 42.5 favorite, I decided to turn my attention to three Tigers Clemson fans might want to pay attention to on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Clemson (3-2) is coming off an open date, so it was a week in which the Tigers did a lot of self-scouting. A good bit of that was watching a lot of game tapes. One might think, with all that attention to getting better and working on those things in practice, Clemson is going to want to execute those corrections in a real-game environment on Saturday.
Below are three Tigers you need to pay attention to on Saturday.
Quarterback Tait Reynolds
Reynolds will be starting his fourth consecutive game for the Tigers. His first three games showed promise, but also the fact that he is young. However, it was obvious Reynolds grew up a little bit in the Miami game and handled himself well. Despite all the issues on the offensive line and him being sacked six times and pressured close to 30 more times, he still threw 44 passes and completed 29 of them for 295 yards. Granted, he did turn the ball over twice and he needs to do a better job of protecting the football, but I think you saw him grow up a little bit on Oct. 3. With a week to work on himself, study the playbook and watch tape, Reynolds should turn that promise he showed in the Miami game into success against Charleston Southern. This is a good week for the freshman to build up some confidence before hitting the back stretch of a schedule that is favorable for the Tigers if he becomes the quarterback the coaches think he can become.
Right Guard Easton Ware
Dabo Swinney did not wait long after the Miami game to name Easton Ware as his starter at right guard. He named him the starter the following Monday. Swinney said this was the plan all along in the preseason before an injury to Collin Sadler, just before the season opener at LSU, forced Ware to start at right tackle in Baton Rouge. Clemson moved several guys into that right guard position before finally settling with Ware for the time being. You could see freshman Grant Wise or sophomore Tucker Kattus get some snaps at right guard on Saturday as well, but the plan is for that to be later in the game. The goal of this game is to get Ware used to working with Sadler and center Harris Sewell. He played most of the second half against Miami and that is when the right side of the line had its fewest mistakes in the game. However, he did make one on the fourth-and-one play at the Miami 18 that allowed the Hurricanes to end that Clemson drive. With Brayden Jacobs starting at left tackle, alongside Elyjah Thurmon, who is returning from injury, at left guard, the Clemson coaches are hoping this is the offensive line—with a few rotations—they will be playing with the rest of the year.
Donovan Starr, Tiger
The Tiger position in the Clemson secondary is the slot nickel position or just “nickel.” Starr, who transferred to Clemson from Auburn in January, gets his first start at Tiger and his first start anywhere as a Clemson Tiger, as he replaces Corian Gipson, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Starr has primarily been the backup cornerback for Elliot Washington through the first five games, though he has played some snaps at Tiger, including a few in the Miami game. Misun Kelley is listed as his backup. Kelley will also back up Washington. Clemson will also rotate safety Ronan Hanafin into the position when they go to their three-safety look, which defensive coordinator Tom Allen likes to do at times.