One of the smallest questions surrounding the Clemson football team in 2018 is the kick returner position. Who is the best option for the Tigers?
There aren’t many questions surrounding this Clemson football team.
Obviously, we all want to know about the quarterback position. There are a few small questions like who the kicker will be and how the running backs will rotate or if the defensive backfield will develop depth. But, those are all small questions.
One of the smallest questions for this season, though, is the returner spot.
The Tigers didn’t even put a returner pecking order on the preseason depth chart, but today we will take a look at who might be the best option for Clemson football in that department.
Kick Returner Position:
From the looks of practice, Tavien Feaster and Cornell Powell were the two players running with the first-team kick return team.
After those two, several different guys including Travis Etienne, Justyn Ross, Amari Rodgers, Derion Kendrick and Adam Choice have gotten reps.
The truth of the matter here is that the new kick return rule may limit us seeing very many explosive plays this season. In case you missed it, the NCAA passed a new rule allowing a returner to make a fair-catch anywhere between the goal line and the 25-yard line and automatically receive a touchback.
That means that a returner can fair catch the ball at the one-yard line and automatically start on the 25-yard line.
So, the first rule of having a kick returner this season will be that they have good hands. After that, you’d like to have a guy that can make a play. I really like the look of Feaster back there, especially with the fact that he may not be getting as many carries as Etienne this season.
If I were picking the two most explosive players, I’d probably go with Etienne and Derion Kendrick, but that’s not always what you’re looking for. At the end of the day, you’re going to probably see Feaster and another guy back there. But, we’ll have to wait and see.