Elliott says backups will have to knock out Howard to be RB starter |
Speaking at Dabo Swinney's media golf even on Tuesday, Clemson running back coach Tony Elliott said that running back
D.J. Howard
D.J. Howard "With D.J. [Howard] being the veteran with the most experience and the way he was performing you got to go knock out the champ," Elliott said. "I'm not about going in with a split decision and taking the belt away from the champ...at the same time you got to understand yes there is a starter, but the starter can't play every snap and carry every time. In today's college football the days of a guy carrying the ball 30 times and lasting the whole season is not realistic." Elliott said he honestly thought Zac Brooks could have been starter by now in his career. "I thought he would be the guy, by now, that would separate himself," Elliott said. "I think he has all the tools, all the ability. Now he is at the point where he is starting to carry a little bit more weight. I think he is a guy that most naturally from an ability standpoint, from an experience standpoint could separate himself. And you saw some flashes of that in the spring game. He really pushed D.J. for that spot." Elliott also said he realistically has 4 guys that could all separate themselves and be the guy.
RS Sr. Running Back
#22 5-11, 195
Lincoln, AL
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will be the starter unless one of other three backups -
Wayne Gallman
Wayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 195
Loganville, GA
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,
C.J. Davidson
C.J. Davidson
RS Jr. Running Back
#32 5-11, 185
Clemson, SC
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, and
Zac Brooks
Zac Brooks
Jr. Running Back
#24 6-1, 185
Jonesboro, AR
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- truly separates from the group.
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