GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: South Carolina is expected to find little to no rushing room against Clemson’s defensive front, which begs the following question: Can the Gamecocks’ offensive line protect quarterback Jake Bentley long enough to allow for a viable passing attack? That will be a tall order for South Carolina against a front line that consists of four players who are likely to be suiting up in the NFL next season. The quartet of Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant have a combined 67 career sacks, including 18 this season. Clemson’s defense leads the nation in sacks with an average of 3.64 per game and ranks second in tackles for loss at 9.8 per game.
DRAFT SLANT
–DE Clelin Ferrell went out with a bang on Clemson’s Senior Day, accumulating five tackles, including 2 1/2 tackles for loss, with a sack among them. He also was credited with a pass break-up. Rangy and relentless, Ferrell has seen his draft stock rise in a season when he’s had at least two sacks in three different games, giving him 8 1/2 sacks for the year and 26 for his career, which leaves him trailing only Vic Beasley, Michael Dean Perry, Gaines Adams and William Perry in the Clemson record book. Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com has Ferrell rated as the No. 4 overall pick, citing his “length, strength and commitment.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–WR Hunter Renfrow, who missed the second half of the Duke game with a head injury, is day-to-day, but is expected to play Saturday against South Carolina.
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