The Clemson Insider gives a scouting report on every player on Clemson’s summer depth chart. We will break down what the player does best, what he needs to work on, how he compares to other former players at his position and where he fits on the Clemson roster.
Player name: Albert Huggins (6-3, 305)
Player position: Defensive tackle
Years left of eligibility: 2 years
Current rank on depth chart: Second Team
Player productivity so far: Huggins, who enrolled at Clemson in January 2015, embraced a bigger role in year two defensively for the Tigers. He has 32 career tackles and three sacks while playing in 19 games. In 2016, he posted 20 tackles, including three sacks while playing in 13 games as a reserve defensive tackle. He also had seven quarterback pressures.
What player does best: Huggins is very explosive at the point of attack and has good hands. Also, like all of the Tigers’ defensive tackles, he is very athletic for his size.
What player needs to work on: His hands are fine, but he needs to work on his technique and his feet, two areas he greatly improved in during the 2016 season and why he saw more and more action as the season wore on. He had a very productive spring as well.
Productivity of former Clemson players at the position:
Grady Jarrett, 2012: He played in all 13 games and started 11. He totaled 49 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss. He had two sacks and 10 quarterback pressures.
Grady Jarrett, 2014: He was a third-team All-American after recording 73 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. He had 1.5 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures.
Carlos Watkins, 2015: He played in 15 games. He totaled 69 tackles, including 8 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also had 3 deflected passes and returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
Carlos Watkins, 2016: He was a second-team All-American after recording 82 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss. He had 10.5 sacks, the most by a Clemson defensive tackle in school history. He also deflected four passes and had 13 quarterback pressures.
What can you hope for? Huggins admittedly didn’t take the game seriously enough upon his arrival to Clemson in 2015, and thus didn’t see the field much as a freshman. An attitude adjustment ahead of last season helped him earn opportunities, and as he got better with experience, he became a solid contributor on the reserve unit. You hope that he can continue to grow as a player and develop into the kind of defensive tackle the coaching staff feels he can be.
What is a realistic expectation? Huggins, who quietly started to come on as a sophomore, is positioned for a bigger role this season following the departure of All-American Carlos Watkins. In addition to the mental strides, he has improved fundamentally.
What about the future? The former Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School standout has tremendous upside. As an upperclassman, he should have increased chances to tap into his potential.
Hot off the Press. Have you ordered the 2017 Clemson season preview ‘Best is the Standard’ from the staff that covers Clemson football 365 days a year? Order yours today to make sure you get a copy!
