Bowden's great class has Clemson thinking BIG
Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:09 AM
Tommy Bowden set himself up. For what exactly remains to be seen. But he’s set up now.
Recruiting classes that deserve a standing ovation, like the one he wrapped up on Wednesday, have a way of doing that to you. It all has to do with the level of expectations.
And at Clemson, you also have to factor in “the wait.”
These Tigers haven’t won the national title since 1981 and were last crowned Atlantic Coast Conference champs in 1991.
Bowden came along in 1999 and has been “relatively successful.” That translates into never having had a losing season, but never winning more than nine games in a season and therefore never getting off the hot seat.
His chair has been really hot three times before. And in a way -- even though he recently signed a four-year contact extension -- the fourth time is now upon us. This time, continuing to beat archrival South Carolina or getting the better of his father’s Florida State Seminoles will not be enough. With this new batch of recruits all signed up, folks in Clemson are thinking big.
Coming off last season’s 9-4 campaign, which saw the Tigers come within an eyelash (or dropped pass) of playing in the ACC championship game, anything short of brining home the conference title will be a disappointment for the Clemson faithful that’s hungry for something other than the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
And from the looks of things, they’re wishes could be coming true.
Aside from defensive end Phillip Merling, who opted for early entry into the NFL Draft, the Tigers have their entire defense returning. And that’s where DaQuan Bowers from Bamberg, S.C., comes in. Considered by many to be not only the top high school defensive end in the country, but the top recruit overall, Bowers is already enrolled at Clemson and will be participating in spring ball.
On the other side of the football, with quarterback Cullen Harper back after his impressive junior season, the Tigers could feature one of the nation’s most efficient attacks. In addition to having a signalcaller who takes care of the football extremely well (27 touchdown passes against only six interceptions in 2007), Bowden has the luxury of having the dynamic tailback duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller around for one more year. And it could very well be a trio this fall after the signing of highly sought after running back Jamie Harper from Jacksonville, Fla.
The Tigers do have some significant holes to plug along the offensive line, but they got some help in that department with the marquee signing of massive 315-pound tackle Antoine McClain of Anniston, Ala., and guard Kenneth Page of Columbia, S.C.
Bowden’s class included a little bit of everything in terms of positioning and a lot talent across the board. How it’s up to him to produce in a big way … this year or next.
Some of these freshmen might not play major roles early in the season, but it won’t take long for us to find out what direction Tommy’s Tigers are headed in as they open the 2008 season on Aug. 30, against Alabama at the Georgia Dome.
Incidentally, Nick Saban also polished off an excellent recruiting class on Wednesday, but he never really allows his seat to get too hot. He’s usually already packed up and on his way before it gets past the warm stage.
