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.

“It goes back to 2011 in Sammy’s first game against Troy and we throw him that first ball and he goes and scores a touchdown,” Scott said. “I think, over those last four years, every year we’ve had that freshman. Last year, Artavis (Scott) was a guy getting out there early.”

Against the Terriers, it was Ray Ray McCloud. The Tampa-Sickles product had game-high 80 yards receiving. His eight receptions set a school record by a freshman in his first game for the Tigers.

Deon Cain, his running mate from Tampa, had in three catches for 36 yards.

“I sat down with Ray Ray and Deon and I showed them back to 2011. I showed them Artavis’ first couple of games, so they could kind of get their feet wet a little bit. Not surprised at all,” Scott said. “It’s just how it was in practice. There will be a lot of stuff to correct, but just pleased overall.”

Cain nearly hauled in a touchdown catch late in the third quarter, but Nick Schuessler’s deep pass down the visitor’s sideline towards the west end zone fell through his finger tips.

Co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said it would have been a “big confidence booster” for Cain, a multi-year starter at quarterback for Tampa Tech.

“The stage is not too big for either one of them,” Elliott said. “I’m excited about the future. They’re both dynamic. They’re different. They bring different elements, but it’s just something that’s going to help us tremendously throughout the season.”

Their classmate, Mitch Hyatt, is the first true freshman to start a season opener at offensive tackle since Phil Prince lined up against Presbyterian in 1944.

“The first experience — I think running down the hill was the hardest part,” Hyatt said, “Trying not to fall…but once I got going, it went pretty smooth from there.”

As the protector of Deshaun Watson’s blindside, Hyatt played a significant role for a Clemson offense that rolled up 533 yards on 80 plays.

“There’s definitely a lot of technical stuff I need to work on. It was nice to get in a game, to get the motion of everything, see how everything plays out, the crowd and getting my nerves settled for things to come,” Hyatt said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant, Jalen Williams, Judah Davis, J.D. Davis, Van Smith and Albert Huggins all saw the field.

“Just the whole pre-game experience, being in the locker room with all the guys, that was really nice,” Wilkins said. “Just the way it felt inside the locker room and coming around the stadium and running down the hill.

“That was real nice. I’m real excited I get so many more opportunities to do that, for sure.”

McCloud was rather nervous about his first jaunt down the hill, but the anxiety was gone by the time he hit the bottom.

On the field, McCloud was in his element.

“It’s great experience,” he said. “This is only going to make us better for next week, the week after, Notre Dame, Florida State, Boston College, Syracuse — week by week, we just get better from experience.”

McCloud, Cain and Hyatt weren’t the only true freshmen to play on Saturday. So did Kelly Bryant, Jake Fruhmorgen and Garrett Williams.