Clemson defense offers sneak preview for 2008

ATLANTA — Monday's Chick-fil-A Bowl against Auburn is being billed as a preview of 2008 for Clemson's defense.

Everyone who takes the field — that's first string, second string and third string — will have eligibility remaining. Given that this year's group finished sixth nationally in total defense, it's easy to see why fans are already looking ahead to next season.

Not so fast, says third-year defensive coordinator Vic Koenning.

"We're not going to have them all back," he said Saturday. "We all understand. It's like Super Bowl teams thinking they're not going to have some free agents go out, or they're not going to have some guys get traded or this or that."

For Koenning, 2008 might as well be 2028. He said his sole focus is No. 22 Auburn, which brings a large element of uncertainty with new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.

But looking beyond, the biggest question facing the defense is whether end Phillip Merling and safety Michael Hamlin — both juniors — will choose to remain in Clemson. Both have sought the advice of the NFL's draft advisory committee.

For the past month, both players have appeared undecided. But Merling said Saturday he'll depart only if he's projected as a first-round pick.

"Second-round money would be good, but first-round money would be a lot better if I came back next year," he said.

Koenning said he hasn't thought much about what Merling and Hamlin will do. He said the uncertainty surrounding Auburn's offensive approach "is taking every bit of energy we have."

Another junior defensive player who's considering leaving early is defensive tackle Dorell Scott. He has said he's leaning strongly toward staying and graduating.

The players anticipate receiving their reports from the committee this week.

Groves not going ga-ga

Auburn's Quentin Groves is a first-team All-SEC defensive end who needs one sack to become the school's career record holder in that statistic. He'll be matched up against Chris Hairston, a redshirt freshman who has totaled just 173 snaps this season backing up Christian Capote.

Hairston is starting at right tackle because Capote, who started all 12 games this season, is academically ineligible. If Groves is salivating at the thought of giving Hairston a rude introduction, he's giving little indication of it publicly.

"He has a scholarship just like I have a scholarship," Groves said. "I wouldn't say my eyes are lighting up. I just want to play as hard as I can as fast as I can for as long as I can."

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Hairston has been "doing good."

"But he hasn't played against 54 yet."

Don't sell them short

Koenning said it'd be a mistake to assume Clemson will experience a dramatic dropoff at the two starting linebacker positions that were vacated by Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie, both of whom are academically ineligible for the bowl.

Koenning pointed out that freshman Scotty Cooper was pushing Billie hard at strong-side linebacker before he suffered a knee injury that required minor surgery with three games left in the regular season.

"At one point in time, Scotty Cooper was poised to overtake Tramaine Billie and then he got injured," Koenning said. "They were pretty close, production-wise."

After missing the Wake Forest game, Cooper returned but was less than full speed while totaling 11 snaps in the last two games against Boston College and South Carolina.

At Watkins' weak-side linebacker spot, Koenning said redshirt sophomore Kavell Conner has been "very productive." Conner has 31 tackles in 155 snaps.

Larry Williams