In a Thursday night ACC match-up that features a handful of future Clemson prospects (seniors mostly) that will have another chance to impress in primetime as they take on a Wake Forest team lacking great talent across the board and missing their best offensive player, junior receiver Mike Capanero, who’s out with an injury.
This is another chance for Tajh Boyd and the rest of the Clemson NFL hopefuls to impress on national TV once again. Here are the scouting notes to know coming into this game.
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – #10 , 6’1, 220 (JR)
A poised and confidence passer, Boyd has developed well as a pocket passer with downfield vision, touch, and confidence in his arm. While he lacks ideal size, still needs to improve his footwork, and make sure he adjusts his mechanics to limit his passes sailing, his high release point, tight release point, consistent tight ball, and confidence in his deep ball could make him an intriguing quarterback to consider declaring.
RELATED: Scouting Notebook: Comparing EJ Manuel and Tajh Boyd in Their In-Season Match-Up
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson – #6, 6’2, 205 (JR)
One of the more explosive and consistent receivers in the ACC, Hopkins emerged as a legit NFL receiver and future high round pick when Sammy Watkins was out the beginning part of the year. Hopkins does a great job catching away from his body, adjusts himself downfield, and gets consistent separation on out breaking routes and downfield. With his stop-start ability, ball grabbing skills, and run after the catch ability, his high ceiling could make him strongly consider declaring after the season.
Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson – #23, 5’10, 190
This is an excerpt from Jimmy O’Brien’s scouting report in our pre-season NFL Draft Guide.
Ellington is a solid citizen, student, and teammate, who is an emerging leader both on and off the field. He’s an impressive athlete, flashing first rate speed, acceleration, and balance, though he lacks leg strength and lower core power. Demonstrating excellent vision and patience, Ellington doesn’t get ahead of himself; rather, like a big-game cat, he stalks the line, waiting for his chance to strike. When the hole opens, he pounces on the opportunity, showcasing explosive burst through the line, leading to sustained speed that potentially carries him through the linebacker and secondary levels of the defense. He’s largely a vertical, one cut, runner, with the knack for identifying cutback lanes and the skillset to turn those opportunities into big gains for the offense. However, he struggles in the power game, failing to break many tackles, add yards after contact, or provide short yardage value. The fact that he doesn’t consistently run behind his pads, often leaving his full frame exposed to opponents, contributes to his difficulty here. For now, he’s a potential top five running back, and a second round prospect.
Dalton Freeman, OC, Clemson – # 55, 6’5, 285
This is an excerpt from Jimmy O’Brien’s scouting report in our pre-season NFL Draft Guide.
As a three time member of the Academic All ACC team, who has started 36 consecutive games, Freeman is an intelligent, experienced, remarkably durable collegiate player. He possesses excellent size, and is a decent athlete, with plus balance and body positioning; however, he lacks core strength, and looks to have short arms, due to his struggles in keeping opponents off his frame, causing him to do a lot of position blocking with his forearms and chest. Freeman isn’t a “wow” player, but he could anchor some team’s line for the next ten seasons, and he should be a third round selection.
Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson – #97, 6’4,280
This is an excerpt from Jimmy O’Brien’s scouting report in our pre-season NFL Draft Guide.
An impressive physical specimen, Goodman has a powerful NFL body, with natural base strength, an extremely long reach, and huge 11.5″ hands. At the snap, Goodman demonstrates good acceleration and suddenness. He gets his long arms extended quickly and locks on, playing primarily a two-gap, control the defender and react style. He’s strong enough to keep the opponent at a distance, and will work down the line to the ball, but, at times, he struggles to get loose. Versus the pass, Goodman is a linear rusher, with a solid bullrush, who lacks counter moves, and must win on first contact. He’s not a natural speed rusher, but he can be effective off the edge by transferring speed to power, either driving the opponent backward, or gaining enough leverage & momentum to turn the corner. The bullrush and rip move are his calling cards, though, occasionally he’ll effectively use his strong hands to gain inside leverage. His best fit is as a 5-tech in a 3-4, but his scheme and position versatility makes him a sound late second round prospect.
RELATED: Miami Dolphins Draft – Top ACC Juniors (Pre-Season) Scouting Notes
Tanner Price, QB, Wake Forest – #10, 6’1 205 (JR)
While he has limitations with his size and arm strength, Price has flashed the mechanics, throw on the run ability, and vision through traffic are intriguing to say the least. If he can remain efficient and continue to produce despite his top receiver, Mike Capenero, being out with an injury in the past week and for this game as well. Still, his flashes of pocket ability despite his lack of size and upside mentally as a passer can hopefully make him a future 2014 prospect at quarterback.
Clemson Others to Watch:
Brandon Ford, TE, Clemson – #80, 6’4, 240
Jonathan Meeks, SS, Clemson – #5, 6’1, 210
Rashard Hall, FS, Clemson – #31, 6’2, 210
Xavier Brewer, CB, Clemson – #9, 5’11, 190
Jonathan Willard, OLB, Clemson – #46, 6’2, 225
Wake Forest Others to Watch:
Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forest – #42, 6’2, 245
Garrick Williams, OC, Wake Forest – #74, 6’4, 310
Terence Davis, WR, Wake Forest – #81, 6’2, 205
Lovell Jackson, WR, Wake Forest – #4, 5’10, 185
Joey Ehrmann, OLB, Wake Forest – #40, 6’4, 220
Riley Haynes, OLB, Wake Forest – #45, 6’1, 220
Chibuikem Okoro, SS, Wake Forest – #6, 6’1, 190
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