Clemson football: 5 offensive players to watch

CLEMSON - Clemson returned to spring practice this week, searching for offensive depth and stars to emerge. The following are five offensive players to watch as the Tigers retool for 2010:

OT BRANDON THOMAS

Outside of quarterback Kyle Parker, left tackle Chris Hairston is arguably the most important asset on offense. When Hairston missed several games last season due to injury, the Tigers' offense struggled because it lacked a second option at the position.

It's critical Clemson develops another tackle who can protect the quarterback's blind side, not only as an contingency plan for this season but looking forward to 2011.

Thomas is listed as the second-team left tackle and seems to have the most ability among the reserves at the position, which demands size, strength and athleticism.

Rivals.com rated the 6-foot-4, 295-pound redshirt freshman as the 14th-best tackle prospect in the country in 2009.

WR BRYCE MCNEAL

Dabo Swinney said receiver is the "quarterback" competition of this spring's camp, with seven players competing for three starting positions. And no receiver from that group arrived on campus more highly touted than McNeal, a consensus top-100 recruit.

Swinney said McNeal's athleticism "jumps out," as do his smooth route running and reliable hands.

McNeal also possesses a 4.45-second 40-yard dash time, which gives him some of the best speed among the wide receivers - and a chance to compete with Marquan Jones to fill the stretch-the-field position vacated by Jacoby Ford.

McNeal arrived on campus last season as a rail-thin freshman. He's added 10 pounds to his 6-1 frame, weighing in at 179 pounds this spring. The staff wants him at 185.

He's also a friend of quarterback Tajh Boyd. The two are roommates and spent last fall working together on the scout team.

WR JARON BROWN

Swinney has raved about Brown's athleticism since Brown arrived on campus.

The staff often talks of the redshirt sophomore's star potential.

Against Coastal Carolina last season, Brown flashed that potential during an 18-yard touchdown with one of the most impressive run-after-catch efforts by a Clemson receiver in 2009. But Brown struggled with inconsistency and finished with three catches for 30 yards.

The 6-2, 195-pounder has developed slowly after playing in a Wing-T offense in high school. Brown might want to start tapping into his potential quickly because the position only will get deeper in the fall when highly touted freshmen DeAndre Hopkins and Martavis Bryant arrive.

QB DONNY MCELVEEN

With Kyle Parker having smashed a team-best nine home runs for Jack Leggett's baseball team, all eyes are fixed on Plan B at quarterback - Boyd, a redshirt freshman.

But if Parker should elect to play baseball exclusively this fall, Boyd will need a backup, and that could be the grandson of Summerville High coach John McKissick.

McElveen, a two-star recruit according to Scout.com, turned down a scholarship offer from Central Florida to walk on at Clemson last fall. The staff likes his tools, and with the departure of Willy Korn, combined with Kyle Parker's uncertain playing status, the 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore has become a dark horse at the position.

RB RODERICK MCDOWELL

The man they call "Hot Rod" is vying to become this year's Andre Ellington as a redshirt freshman. Ellington and Jamie Harper will split the lion's share of the workload at running back, but depth is always a concern at the position, and the role of third back is McDowell's to lose.