Thirteen true freshmen played for Clemson in Saturday’s 49-10 season-opening win over Wofford, the most in a single game since 1943. That year the U.S. Government drafted Clemson’s entire junior and senior classes, so Frank Howard’s team was made up of entirely freshmen and sophomore.
The most true freshmen Clemson has played over the course of a season since 1952 is 12, in 2011. Eight of those 2011 freshmen were still on NFL rosters when the day started. One of those freshmen in 2011 was Charone Peake, who caught two passes in the win over Wofford.
“I think it says we’ve finally gotten to the point where it’s almost understood,” said co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, who served as recruiting coordinator for the 2011 and 2015 signing classes.