Spring gleaning: Tigers get look at next generation of linebackers

CLEMSON — At present, Clemson has six linebackers available.

Four of the six have never started, including one who has played receiver his whole career.

This time last year, Scotty Cooper was at Lake City High School. But with two starts to his credit, the sophomore somehow qualifies as a veteran in this bunch.

That's just one of the realities for a group of linebackers that has been hit hard by attrition and other adversity since the end of the 2007 season.

Cooper said the six are negotiating this unfamiliar territory as best they can during spring practice.

"You have to kind of have the mindset to just step up and take a lot of coaching and get better and learn the system," he said. "It's springtime, and we have a lot of time to correct things and get a feel for each other."

Getting a feel is difficult when the top four linebackers from last season's team aren't present. Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie exhausted their eligibility after combining for 65 career starts and 639 tackles. Antonio Clay is home in Georgia battling emotional issues and isn't considered likely to return for his senior season.

And last week, coach Tommy Bowden suspended senior Cortney Vincent (12 starts and 68 tackles last season) for spring practice after Vincent committed an unspecified violation of team policy.

That leaves Cooper and Kavell Conner (two career starts) as the elder statesmen. Conner has 77 career tackles entering his junior season; Cooper had 33 last season as a freshman, playing in 12 games.

In senior Josh Miller (35 career tackles) and junior Jeremy Campbell (26 tackles), the Tigers have two career reserves. But that's more experience than is offered by Brandon Maye and Rendrick Taylor.

Maye redshirted last season and is working with Miller at middle linebacker. Taylor played receiver his first three seasons but is hoping to close his career with a flourish at linebacker.

The 6-2, 240-pound Taylor said coaches approached him about the switch. He is behind Conner at weak-side linebacker and sounds encouraged, but he's going to reserve judgment until after hitting begins.

"The big test will come Wednesday once we throw the pads on," said Taylor, who has not ruled out moving back to receiver. "I'm going to feel real excited. I get a chance to hit some people instead of being hit all the time."

The Tigers will soon have a seventh linebacker at full speed. Early enrollee Stanley Hunter has been held out after suffering an epileptic seizure two weeks ago. Hunter, who said he's dealt with the condition since his sophomore year at Byrnes High School, is anticipating being cleared for full contact after the team returns from next week's spring break.

Hunter, who will work on the strong side behind Cooper and Campbell, is waiting for the new medication to work its way through his system.

Bowden has not ruled out a permanent dismissal for Vincent, who also has a DUI charge pending, but the players are expecting him back.

"It's tough, but it's college football," Cooper said of Vincent's absence. "All of us love Cortney and we're behind him and respect him. He's going through some stuff. But this is college, and you have to pick up and keep going no matter what."

This and that

Tailback C.J. Spiller will miss Wednesday's and Friday's practices to run in the NCAA indoor track championships in Fayetteville, Ark. … Bowden said more emphasis on the kicking game has already paid off through two practices … Bowden complimented freshman quarterback Kyle Parker on his monster day with the baseball team. Parker hit three home runs and had seven RBIs in Sunday's come-from- behind victory at Wake Forest. Parker is expected to redshirt this fall … Wide receiver Brandon Clear will not move to safety, Bowden said.

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Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com.