South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Clemson Tigers NFL Draft Prospect Watch
Oct 6, 2012; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-US PRESSWIRE
In the biggest game of the year for either team, South Carolina and Clemson are set to face off against each other in a battle that features some very solid NFL prospects.
South Carolina is ranked 12th in the country and Clemson ranks 11th, and I think fans are going to be very pleased with the product put out on the field tonight. My personal favorite prospect in the game is South Carolina defensive end Jadaveon Clowney, who has 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss heading into the final game of the regular season. Clowney is only a sophomore, but already has bulked up to 6’6″ 256 pounds, and he’ll certainly be one of the best prospects in the country heading into next year.
Probably the most surprising player in this game is Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the team in receiving just a year after freshman Sammy Watkins set the nation on fire with his electric play. Hopkins has 68 catches for 1,178 yards and 15 touchdown grabs, and South Carolina is going to have a tough time bottling him up.
There are a variety of prospects in this game you need to be keeping your eye on, so here are our comprehensive team overviews:
Here is a preview from our Clemson Tigers team preview:
"6 DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Junior 6’1″ 205 poundsHopkins has by far and away run off with Clemson’s top receiver spot after Sammy Watkins had a stellar freshman season just a year ago. Watkins has struggled with injuries and inconsistencies while Hopkins has stolen the spotlight at Clemson in 2012. Through the team’s first seven games, he leads the Tigers with 52 receptions for 845 yards and nine touchdowns. Though not as tall as ideal, Hopkins does a good job of snatching the ball out of the air and making the play at its highest point. Big play threat with good speed and I love his elusiveness after the catch. He is averaging over 16 yards per reception so far this season, proving that he is a consistent downfield threat."