2012 Discover Orange Bowl Head2Head: Offensive Line
Clemson SR OT Phillip Price and WVU All-Big East C Joe Madsen will play key roles inkeeping defenders away from their All-Conference quarterbacks.
2012 DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL
HEAD2HEAD: Offensive Line
Offensive Line
By Brett Brecheisen
West Virginia: With every great offense comes an excellent offensive line and West Virginia and Clemson have just that. The Mountaineers are anchored by left tackle Don Barclay. The redshirt senior was named First-Team All-Big East and will make his 40th career start in the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl – the most of any Mountaineer. Center Joe Madsen is also a key contributor, starting all but one game in his three-year career. The redshirt junior is "the best center I’ve ever been around," according to West Virginia Head Coach Dana Holgorsen. The other projected starters for West Virginia are redshirt junior Jeff Braun, redshirt freshman Quinton Spain and redshirt sophomore Curtis Feigt.
Clemson: Clemson is very experienced on the offensive line and that experience has helped the Tigers have a 1,000 yard rusher (Andre Ellington) and 3,000 yard passer (Tajh Boyd) in the same season. Both starting offensive tackles were named All-ACC Honorable Mention in redshirt senior Phillip Price and redshirt graduate Landon Walker. Price began his career at Clemson as a walk-on tight end but changed positions and has truly shined in his first season as a starting tackle. Walker has been a four-year starter at right tackle and has combined with senior right guard Antoine McClain and redshirt junior center Dalton Freeman to be one of the most consistent right sides in the nation. The three have started alongside each other for 35 consecutive games. The Tigers have seven solid linemen. The fifth starter is left guard Brandon Thomas, who began the season as a third-stringer before injuries thrust him into a starting role. The redshirt sophomore excelled and has held that starting position despite redshirt graduates David Smith and Mason Cloy both returning to action.
Running Backs
By Robin Prywes
Clemson: Clemson junior running back Andre Ellington leads the Tigers with 1,062 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on just 213 carries. He averages 6.3-yard-per-carry. Ellington gives balance to what had been a pass-first Clemson offense and makes an already effective attack truly dynamic. Ellington rushed for 1,062 yards this season despite missing the Georgia Tech game, and being limited in several other contests with an ankle injury. Freshman D.J. Howard joins Ellington to form an effective one-two punch at the running back position for the Tigers. Howard rushed 226 yards on 40 carries this season, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt.
West Virginia: West Virginia enters the game ranked 19
th in the country in scoring offense, with an average of 35 points per game. Freshman Dustin Garrison leads the Mountaineer ground game with 742 yards and six scores on 5.5 yards-per-carry. Garrison had an impressive career start against Bowling Green, rushing for 291 yards and two touchdowns, with 233 of those yards in the first half alone. Junior Shawne Alston leads the Mountaineers with 10 rushing touchdowns. Like their passing attack, West Virginia’s rushing offense can strike at lightning speed.
Defensive Line:
By Brett Brecheisen
CLEMSON: The Tigers have always produced great defensive linemen in a vicious 4-3 defensive scheme and this year proves to be no different. After graduating two second round picks at defensive end (Jarvis Jenkins and Da’Quan Bowers), Clemson has perhaps two first round picks on this year’s defensive line. Andre Branch anchors a defensive line that finished tied for sixth in the ACC in sacks and fourth in the ACC in pass defense. The All-ACC First-team member leads the conference with 10.5 sacks and has posted the fourth highest sack total in a season in school history. Senior defensive tackle Brandon Thompson is widely considered to be the top defensive tackle in next year’s NFL draft class and is third on the team with 73 total tackles. The Tigers also start junior Malliciah Goodman and redshirt senior Rennie Moore to round out arguably the most veteran and talented defensive line in the ACC.
WEST VIRGINIA: The Mountaineers give a very different defensive look, electing to play the 3-3-5. The unit is led by redshirt senior defensive tackle Julian Miller who ranks second in school history with 27.5 career sacks. The Columbus, Ohio native was a standout defensive end before moving inside for his senior season. Joining Miller are starters Will Clarke and Jorge Wright. One aspect that West Virginia brings to the table on the defensive line is depth. Pass rushing specialist Bruce Irvin rotates in and finished fifth in the Big East with 7.5 sacks. Redshirt senior Josh Taylor also adds experience and depth to the interior line.
Special Teams
By: Noah Sharfman
WEST VIRGINIA: "Kick at your own risk." That is the lesson learned by teams that faced West Virginia this season. Be it a punt or kickoff, the Mountaineers were among the most dangerous special teams in the nation. Led by star return specialist Tavon Austin, the West Virginia Mountaineers can beat you on offense, defense and especially on special teams. Austin, an All-Big East First Team selection for kick returners, ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards and fifth nationally in punt returns. As if the speed and agility of Austin wasn’t enough to opposing defenses to worry about, wide receiver Stedman Baily joins Austin in the backfield on kickoff return. Together, the two form arguably to the explosive and dangerous return tandem in college football.
CLEMSON: Lightning can strike at any moment for the Clemson Tigers when they are returning a kick or punt. Freshman playmaker Sammy Watkins, an All-ACC Second Team selection as a return specialist, powers the Tigers’ dynamic return game. Fellow wide receiver Jaron Brown and running back DeAndre Hopkins often join Watkins in the back field on kick and punt returns, giving Clemson two returners with elite speed and athleticism. As important as a return game is for the Tigers, punter Dawson Zimmerman is among the best at his position. The All-ACC Honorable Mention can easily turn the field position battle in favor of the Tigers with one swift kick.