Tigers' freshman tailback Harper sprains ankle

On the Beat: Clemson

CLEMSON — Before Saturday, Brandon Maye wasn't aware of the new NCAA rule against the "horse-collar" tackle.

No doubt he is now.

Prized freshman tailback Jamie Harper suffered a sprained ankle during Saturday's scrimmage as Maye snatched him down by the back of his shoulder pads.

Harper had been making the biggest splash of preseason camp for the No. 9 Tigers, but now his status is uncertain. Maye said he was trying to catch up to Harper, who had bounced outside and was running down the sideline when Maye grabbed him just under his neck and swung him to the turf.

Linebackers coach David Blackwell immediately gave Maye a stern tutorial on the new NCAA rule that prohibits players from grabbing the pads or jersey behind the neck.

"I wasn't familiar with the rule," said Maye, a redshirt freshman. "I'm definitely familiar with the rule now."

Said coach Tommy Bowden: "I can see why the NCAA or whoever looked at it, because it was that type of tackle."

Sitting stars

Plenty of Clemson's established veterans got to sit and watch Saturday at Memorial Stadium as the Tigers' coaching staff took a long look at reserves.

Junior end Ricky Sapp said he didn't play at all. Others who played sparingly were defensive tackle Dorell Scott, "cat" safety Michael Hamlin, free safety Chris Clemons, quarterback Cullen Harper, and tailbacks James Davis and C.J. Spiller.

"They just want to see what happens if somebody gets tired and we have to pull them out," Davis said. "They want to know what the other guys can do, see if those guys can back up these other guys and produce on the field."

Bowden said the experiment caused plenty of sputters on both sides of the ball.

"We pulled some of the veterans. We pulled them early," Bowden said. "When you do that, you lose continuity and rhythm on both sides of the ball. … We played a whole lot of people in critical situations trying to get the right pegs in the right slots for Alabama. That's one of the biggest things we wanted to do today."

Redshirt freshman Andre Branch, one of Sapp's backups, had three sacks. Freshman tailback Andre Ellington, a former Berkeley High standout, had 10 carries for 23 yards and added a 28-yard punt return.

Taylor to redshirt

Senior running back Rendrick Taylor said he decided to redshirt this season in part because he could contribute more in 2009.

Taylor, who's up to 260 pounds, returned to practice last week after missing substantial time addressing family issues. He was the leading rusher in the scrimmage with seven carries for 45 yards and a TD.

Taylor said he thinks the coaches still see something in him.

"Most guys, they'd graduate them and get them out of here," he said.

Just for kicks

Backup kicker Richard Jackson had a strong day, finishing 3-for-4. He converted from 50, 44 and 37 yards while missing from 36. Starter Mark Buchholz made from 44 and missed from 41.

Bowden said the punting race is still tight between Jimmy Maners and Dawson Zimmerman.