Clemson Tigers vs Wofford Terriers Football Preview

Forget last Saturday, but remember Richmond and James Madison.

That’s Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s charge this week with his young Tigers (1-0) going into a matchup against the in-state FCS-opponent Wofford Terriers (1-0), after pulling away to a 43-19 win over the Troy Trojans last week.

For 24 of the 70 Tigers who’ve played this season, Wofford is only the second game of their college careers. Against Troy, 12 redshirt and 12 true freshmen saw the field, and right away, they made plays.

On the second offense play of the game, true freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins grabbed a quick pass and muscled past a Troy defender to the endzone for a 33-yard touchdown. Scoring 26 seconds into the game, Watkins shattered the Clemson record for the quickest freshmen touchdown, which was held by 1987 running back Terry Allen who scored 6:07 in to a game against Western Carolina.   

Early in the fourth quarter against Troy, true freshman running back Mike Bellamy took his first rush 75-yards to the endzone for the longest first-carry in Clemson history.

Add to that, true freshman wide receiver Martavis Bryant’s first catch being of 54-yards, true freshman linebacker Stephone Anthony having the Tigers’ lone sack and true freshman defensive back Robert Smith the only interception – this Clemson team is young, and very, very talented.

But again, they’re young, and the Wofford Terriers will present them a challenge, especially on defense.

The Terriers, coached for the 23rd season by Mike Ayers (155-107-1 record at the school), run the wingbone offense – similar in formation to a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets or Navy Midshipmen – with two running backs on either side and a fullback behind the quarterback.

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The similarities to Georgia Tech aren’t 100 percent though, says Swinney.

“They have Georgia Tech, Auburn, a little of everything,” Swinney said. “They’re a very diverse offense.

“They have some Georgia Tech principles, but they have a lot more things they’ll do from a personnel standpoint.”

Wofford’s rushing attack finished atop the FCS in rushing yards per game last season, and didn’t skip a beat last week against the Presbyterian Blue Hose, with 352 yards on the ground in a 35-28 road win.

Preseason SoCon Player of the Year and Terriers fullback Eric Breitenstein is the center of the attack, after leading the FCS in touchdowns last season with 22. At quarterback, Wofford has senior Mitch Allen, who finished second on the team in rushing yards last season with 681.

Clemson coaches will throw out stat after stat and show tape after tape of how good Wofford can be to their players, but probably the best help they could get came last weekend with another FCS conquest in the ACC, Richmond over Duke, 23-21 (the second Spiders’ win over the Blue Devils in three seasons).

And with James Madison's win at ACC Champion Virginia Tech of all places not too long ago, Swinney has plenty of talking points to keep the youngsters in line this week up to the Saturday 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff in Clemson Memorial Stadium. 

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Staff Writer