TCI hands out some helmet stickers after Clemson’s 37-27 victory at Syracuse…
Deshaun Watson
What more can the Clemson quarterback be reasonably expected to do? The sophomore—yes, he is still just a sophomore—set a new career high with 461 yards of total offense against Syracuse, accounting for three touchdowns along the way. He completed a career-best 34 passes (on 47 attempts) for 360 yards and managed 101 rushing yards on 13 carries. Watson would have had more rushing yardage, too, had it not been for a little bobble of the ball on a surefire lengthy scoring run that caused him to stumble to the turf. Leadership was critical as the score got tight late in the game, and the Heisman candidate provided that, as well.
Artavis Scott
Either Clemson’s gameplan or its adjustment was to eschew a traditional between-the-tackles running game in favor of getting the ball to the perimeter in a hurry. That choice directly benefited Scott, who hauled in 12 passes for 73 yards in the game. The dozen receptions was a new career high for the sophomore. The importance of Scott in the horizontal passing game is highlighted when comparing his stat line to that of Wayne Gallman, who had 16 touches for 67 yards. Scott’s contributions were critical for a Clemson offense that stalled at times against a pesky Orange defense.
Charone Peake
Peake has earned rave reviews in 2015 for his run blocking, but it was his ability to haul in passes thrown his way that caused a disturbance on Saturday. The veteran wideout caught seven passes, tying a career high, and piled up a career-best 120 receiving yards. That included a big 64-yard reception on the game’s first play that stands as the longest of his career. Peake’s speed was valuable to the Tigers against Syracuse’s aggressive coverage, and Watson was able to find him for some big completions all game long.
Deon Cain
Earlier this season, tight end Jordan Leggett had a lengthy scoring streak. Cain is attempting to join him, as the freshman has now caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games. In all, Cain caught four passes for 69 yards and that score—a 40-yard catch in which he pulled away from the trailing cornerback to make the play and finish the drive. Cain continues to progress as a freshman transitioning from his role as a high school quarterback, and as his role expands on a weekly basis, stat lines like Saturday’s will become the norm.
Shaq Lawson
In a performance that was not exactly the defense’s finest hour, Lawson was clearly a dominant force off the edge. He had three tackles for loss in Saturday’s win at Syracuse, which gives him a whopping 17.5 for the season. He also recorded Clemson’s only sack in the game, and his constant pressure off the edge was a topic of conversation throughout the broadcast. Lawson’s four overall tackles ranked second among Tiger defenders, as well.