Head To Head Matchup: Receivers

Clemson has two talented receivers that you will see a lot of on Saturday. Clemson receiver Aaron Kelly is eighth on the ACC's top 10 list for career receptions with 190. The 6-5/190 pound senior is one of the top wide receivers in the nation. He is now Clemson's career reception leader. At the start of the 2008 season, Kelly and Greg Carr were the only active ACC players with at least 2,000 receiving yards. On the season, Kelly has 37 catches for 397 yards and 3 TDs.

Close behind Kelly is 5-10/185 pound junior and Florida native Jacoby Ford. Ford is known as one of the most explosive players in the ACC. He suffered a broken ankle at Maryland in the eighth game of 2007 and missed the rest of the year but has come back to be a two-sport star in 2008. In 2008, he competed with the track team in the spring and earned All-America honors in the 100m. He has the speed which the Nole defense will have to be able to contain. On the season, Ford has 35 catches for 390 yards and 2 TDs.

The third leading Clemson receiver is Tyler Grisham with 23 catches and 265 yards. And the Noles cannot forget running back C.J. Spiller who is the fourth leading receiver with 15 catches for 216 yards and 1 TD.

In scoring offense, Clemson is ranked #5 in the ACC averaging 25 points a game and scoring 22 TDs on the year. Aaron Kelly is ranked #7 and Jacoby Ford is ranked #11 in the ACC in receiving yards. In passing offense, Clemson is #1 in the ACC averaging almost 211 yards a game and scoring 7 TDs through the air.

Defensive matchup: The Nole defense is one of the best in the ACC although last week's game against Ga. Tech would not have indicated that fact. The pass defense for the Noles is ranked #2 in the ACC allowing on average 167 yards a game and giving up 8 TDs through the air.

Opponents are completing less than 50% of their passes. In passes defended, FSU leads the ACC. Tony Carter and Myron Rolle along with Patrick Robinson get a lot of press but the FSU secondary has not shown that it can get turnovers and they been burned in coverage numerous times. They only have 5 interceptions on the year which ranks them next to last in the ACC. They will have to play a great game on Saturday in order to contain Clemson's receivers who have size and speed.

For the Noles, the leading receiver continues to be Greg Carr who has been particularly impressive in the last several games. On the season, Carr has 24 catches for 380 yards and 2 TDs. Behind him is Taiwan Easterling who has 22 catches for 243 yards and 1 TD. Carr and Easterling are the only two players who have caught at least one pass in each of the Seminoles' games this season. Carr was able to haul in five passes for 68 yards against Georgia Tech while Easterling nabbed two passes for 11 yards.

Bert Reed has 3 TDs and 226 yards. Preston Parker had a good game against Ga. Tech and seems to be getting more involved in the offense. Parker accumulated 127 all-purpose yards (77 receiving and 50 on kick returns) in the Seminoles’ game against Georgia Tech. It was Parker’s first 100+ yard all-purpose outing of the 2008 season while his fourth quarter touchdown pass from D’Vontrey Richardson was his first touchdown of his junior season.

Corey Surrency who was suspended for the Ga. Tech game will be back and adds height but he has been a non-factor in the past four games having only three catches although he still shares the lead in TD catches with 3 on the season.

In scoring offense, FSU is ranked #1 in the ACC averaging over 35 points a game and scoring 22 TDs for the season. Greg Carr is ranked #12 in the ACC in receiving. In passing offense, the Noles are ranked #7 in the ACC averaging almost 196 yards a game and scoring 13 TDs through the air.

Defensive matchup: The Noles will be facing a Clemson defense that is ranked #4 in the ACC in pass defense that allows 175 yards a game and 8 TDs. This is a defense that has managed to get 8 interceptions on the season. The defense is allowing their opponents to complete almost 58% of their passes. In passes defended, Clemson is in the bottom quarter of the ACC ranked #8 with 24 passes broken up. Senior Clemson defensive back Michael Hamlin is ranked #5 in the ACC with 3 picks and is also is ranked #11 in the ACC in passes defended. In addition, Hamlin and defensive back Chris Clemons are in the top 20 in the ACC in tackles.