CLEMSON – Seven players from Clemson’s top-ranked defense were on NFL rosters heading into that league’s first weekend, but don’t think the swagger is gone. The swagger is alive and well.
A week after thwarting outmanned Wofford in the season opener, Clemson’s first-team unit shut down Appalachian St. for the entire first half and part of the third quarter before giving way to a bevy of reserves. The “new” faces include defensive tackle Carlos Watkins. Watkins scored Clemson’s first touchdown Saturday on an interception that he returned 15 yards for the score.
Appalachian St. didn’t dent the 100-yard total offense mark until midway through the third quarter, and that came against a lot of second and third-team players, but the game was in doubt early in the second quarter when safety Jayron Kearse intercepted App St.