Clemson Football: Three South Carolina players to watch

Who are the biggest threats to keep the Tigers from winning on Rivalry Weekend?

The biggest event in the Palmetto State this week isn't Thanksgiving. No, that title goes to the Palmetto Bowl, a game so important in the state that former President and Presidential hopeful Donald Trump will reportedly be in attendance. 

The Clemson Tigers have had some real momentum to end the season, winning their last three contests but people may not realize the Gamecocks have matched them during that stretch. Still, South Carolina needs this win to gain bowl eligibility. So who are the most likely threats for South Carolina to end all the goodwill the Tigers have built up in this last month?

Xavier Legette was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Biletnikoff Award / Clemson Athletics

1. Spencer Rattler, Quarterback

Stats: 3,074 yards passing on 70.6% completion with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also has 4 rushing touchdowns on the year as well.

Rattler's career has had more turns than the F1 race last week in Las Vegas. A guy who at one point was deemed the future No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick while at Oklahoma is now fighting to salvage his draft stock on a losing team in the SEC. With that being said, he's had a decent season, especially with the lack of protection he's had. Look no further than what he did to the Tigers in last year's game to see how dangerous he can be if he gets hot. Rattler isn't immune to turnovers and the front seven of Clemson will be looking to generate as much pressure as possible to make him uncomfortable. Either way, look for him to make some big-time throws with the crowd behind him in this one.

2. Xavier Legette, Wide Receiver

Stats: 65 catches for 1,187 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns. 

The fifth-year senior has absolutely exploded onto the scene in 2023. Before this year his career high for yards in a season was 167. Legette has clearly blown those numbers out of the water and cemented himself as one of the better-receiving prospects in the country. At 6'3 and 227 pounds "X-Man" has the ability to bully you in the air and go up and get whatever Rattler might give him the opportunity to catch. He has struggled to put up numbers against some of the better defenses the Gamecocks have faced this year however, and a lot of that is due to the pressure a defense is able to put on the Rattler. 

3. Debo Williams, Linebacker

Stats: 102 tackles with 1 sack, 2 pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

South Carolina's defensive success, though limited, usually started with Debo Williams. He's the SEC's third-leading tackler and is always around the ball. The junior from Delaware has had double-digit tackles in four of his last five games. The Gamecocks defensive struggles this season are well documented but if the Clemson offense shows any signs of struggling on Saturday, Debo will likely be in the middle of it all.