The biggest offseason acquisition for Clemson may have been the "recruitment" of new offensive coordinator Chad Morris. Morris employed the spread offense to great effectiveness last season at Tulsa as the Golden Hurricane won their last seven games and were the only team in the nation to rank in the top 15 in both rushing and passing offense.

That accomplishment, as well as an impressive track record as a high school coach in Texas, impressed Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Now the biggest offseason change will be the implementation of the new offense during spring and fall drills.

"I want to be simple and appear complicated," Swinney said after introducing Morris. "It caught my eye how good Tulsa was this year compared to the previous year. And I cannot tell you how highly recommended he is."

This much is certain -- the Tigers suddenly appear well-stocked for such an offense after signing some of the top receivers in the nation in the recruiting class on Feb. 2, including five-star guys Charone Peake and Sammy Watkins. Add Martavis Bryant, who originally signed last year and has spent the last year at prep school, to the mix, and it's easy to see why many Clemson fans are excited about the prospects.

The sticking point may be the development of Tajh Boyd, who tutored behind Kyle Parker last season at quarterback. This will be Boyd's team from the get-go and it will be imperative that he establish himself as an effective operator in spring ball.

TOP OF THE CLASS

OLB Stephone Anthony (Anson County High, Wadesboro, N.C.) -- It's difficult for a freshman to step into a key role at linebacker in his first season, but if anyone's capable it could be Anthony, who has the size (6-3, 220) and the reputation to be considered a candidate right away. He was a USA Today and Parade first-team All-American and rated the nation's top outside linebacker by ESPN.com after a senior season that included 123 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

ILB Tony Steward (Pedro Menendez High, Saint Augustine, Fla.) -- The other half of Clemson's dynamic linebacker duo, Steward was rated the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker by ESPN.com. Again, this 6-2, 225-pounder could challenge for playing time sooner rather than later after winning the high school version of the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.

RB Mike Bellamy (Charlotte High, Punta Gorda, Fla.) -- Bellamy continues a tradition of great Florida backs lured out of the Sunshine State by the Tigers. He's touted as a C.J. Spiller-like talent and the numbers back him up -- Bellamy averaged 8.7 yards per carry for his career and scored a state-record 110 touchdowns. He was national Player of the Year by Sporting News and was a first-team Parade All-American. Incumbent back Andre Ellington could be looking over his shoulder in fall drills.

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