12/B2/LSU

B2 AMERICAN PRESS MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2020 CFP Championship Game LSU vs. Clemson • 7 p.m. • ESPN • LSU ROSTER CLEMSON ROSTER No. Player Pos. Ht./Wt. Cl Hometown No. Player Pos. Ht./Wt. Cl Hometown 1 Ja’Marr Chase WR 6-1/200 So. Harvey 1 Derion Kendrick CB/WR 6-0/190 So. Rock Hill, S.C. 1 CB 6-0/200 Sr. New Orleans 2 Frank Ladson Jr. WR 6-3/195 Fr. Miami, Fla. 2 WR 6-3/192 Jr. Saint Rose 3 WR 5-10/210 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn. 3 AJ Aycock QB 6-5/212 Fr. Jonesboro, Ark. 3 DE 6-2/265 So. Florence, S.C. 3 Tyrion Davis-Price RB 6-1/226 Fr. Baton Rouge 5 WR 6-4/215 Jr. Oak Ridge, Tenn. 3 JaCoby Stevens S 6-1/228 Jr. Murfreesboro, Tenn. 5 K.J. Henry DE 6-4/250 Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C. 4 John Emery Jr.. RB 6-0/203 Fr. Saint Rose 6 Mike Jones Jr. LB 6-0/225 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. 4 Todd Harris Jr.. S 5-11/190 Jr. Maringouin 7 Justin Mascoll DE 6-3/260 Fr. Snellville, Ga. 5 Devonta Lee WR 6-1/223 Fr. Fluker 7 QB 6-2/230 So. Grayson, Ga. 5 Kary Vincent Jr.. CB 5-10/185 Jr. Houston 8 WR 6-4/205 So. Phenix City, Ala. 8 A.J. Terrell CB 6-1/190 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. 6 Terrace Marshall Jr. WR 6-4/200 So. Bossier City 9 Brian Dawkins Jr. CB 5-7/170 Jr. Parker, Colo. 6 LB 6-4/233 Jr. Nashville, Tenn. 9 RB 5-10/210 Jr. Jennings 7 S 6-3/203 Jr. Houston 10 Joseph Ngata WR 6-3/215 Fr. Folsom, Calif. 8 Peter Parrish QB 6-1/190 Fr. Phenix City, Ala. 10 Baylon Spector LB 6-1/230 So. Calhoun, Ga. 8 LB 6-1/227 Jr. Ventress 11 LB 6-4/230 Jr. Olathe, Kan. 9 Marcel Brooks S 6-2/194 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas 11 Taisun Phommachanh QB 6-3/220 Fr. Bridgeport, Conn. 9 QB 6-4/216 Sr. Athens, Ohio 12 Ben Batson QB 6-1/210 Fr. Central, S.C. 10 Stephen Sullivan TE 6-5/242 Sr. Donaldsonville 12 K’Von Wallace S 5-11/205 Sr. Richmond, Va. 11 Dee Anderson WR 6-5/197 Sr. Dallas Rick Hickman / American Press 13 Brannon Spector WR 6-1/195 Fr. Calhoun, Ga. 11 Eric Monroe S 6-1/208 Jr. Houston LSU Tigers linebacker Jr. (45) makes the stop 13 DT 6-2/295 Fr. Apopka, Fla. 12 Walker Kinney QB 6-2/218 Fr. Stilwell, Kan. on Auburn Tigers running back D.J. Williams (3). 14 Denzel Johnson S 6-0/205 Sr. Columbia, S.C 12 Donte Starks LB 6-1/212 Fr. Marrero 14 Diondre Overton WR 6-4/210 Gr. Greensboro, N.C. 13 Jontre Kirklin WR 6-0/185 Jr. Lutcher 15 Jake Venables LB 6-1/230 Fr. Clemson, S.C. 14 Maurice Hampton DB 6-0/214 Fr. Memphis, Tenn. 15 Patrick McClure QB 6-1/200 So. Irmo, S.C. 14 J.Gordon McKernan QB 6-2/186 Fr. Baton Rouge CFP Championship 16 QB 6-6/220 So. Cartersville, Ga. 15 QB 6-4/207 So. Long Beach, Miss. LSU vs. Clemson 16 Ray Thornton III S 6-1/205 Fr. Columbus, Ga. 16 Jay Ward CB 6-2/167 Fr. Moultrie, Ga. 17 WR 6-0/210 Jr. Greenville, N.C. 17 Racey McMath WR 6-3/221 Jr. New Orleans Superdome 17 Kane Patterson LB 6-1/225 Fr. Brentwood, Tenn. 18 K’Lavon Chaisson LB 6-4/250 So. Houston New Orleans 18 T.J. Chase WR 6-1/190 Jr. Plant City, Fla. 19 WR 5-11/186 Sr. Franklinton 7:15 p.m., ESPN 18 Joseph Charleston S 6-0/190 Fr. Milton, Ga. 21 Kenan Jones S 6-3/207 So. Berwick 19 S 6-2/230 Gr. Belmont, N.C. 22 C. Edwards-Helaire RB 5-8/209 Jr. Baton Rouge 19 Michel Dukes RB 5-10/195 Fr. Charleston, S.C. 14-0 14-0 20 LeAnthony Williams CB 5-11/185 So. Atlanta, Ga. 23 Micah Baskerville LB 6-1/228 So. Shreveport 21 Bryton Constantin LB 6-2/220 Fr. Baton Rouge 23 Corren Norman RB 5-9/191 Fr. Broussard Line: LSU 2-1 Series: LSU 2-1 21 Darien Rencher RB 5-8/195 Jr. Anderson, S.C. 24 Chris Curry RB 6-0/215 Fr. Lehigh Acres, Fla. 22 Will Swinney WR 5-8/185 Jr. Clemson, S.C. 24 Derek Stingley Jr. CB 6-1/190 Fr. Baton Rouge What’s At Stake 22 Xavier Kelly DT 6-4/305 Jr. Wichita, Kan. 25 Cordale Flott CB 6-2/160 Fr. Saraland, Ala. Clemson, the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, is trying 23 Andrew Booth Jr. CB 6-0/185 Fr. Dacula, Ga. 25 Josh Williams RB 5-10/192 Fr. Houston to repeat as national champion and become the first team to do 23 Lyn-J Dixon RB 5-10/190 So. Butler, Ga. 26 Kendall McCallum LB 6-5/225 Fr. Anniston, Ala. that since Alabama in 2011-12. The Tigers would also enter 24 Nolan Turner S 6-1/195 Jr. Vestavia Hills, Ala. 27 Lanard Fournette RB 5-11/200 Sr. New Orleans even more exclusive company with a third 25 J.C. Chalk TE 6-3/255 Jr. Argyle, Texas 27 Treven Kately DB 5-10/191 So. Lafayette national title in four years. In The poll era 25 Jalyn Phillips DB 6-1/205 Fr. Lawrenceville, Ga. 28 Mannie Netherly DB 6-3/185 Jr. Crosby, Texas 26 Sheridan Jones CB 6-0/180 Fr. Norfolk Va. (starting in 1936), only Alabama (2009, 2011-12), Nebraska 28 Clyde Townsend WR 5-9/156 Fr. Bradenton, Fla. 26 Jack McCall CB 5-11/190 So. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29 Alex Aucoin WR 6-0/180 Fr. Baton Rouge (1994-95, 97) and Notre Dame (1946-47, ‘49) accomplished that 27 Chez Mellusi RB 5-11/200 Fr. Naples, Fla. 29 Raydarious Jones CB 6-2/161 Fr. Horn Lake, Miss. feat. It would stamp the Tigers as a true dynasty. 27 Carson Donnelly S 5-10/185 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. 30 Cade Comeaux DB 6-0/178 Fr. New Orleans LSU, the champ, is looking for its 29 Hampton Earle WR 5-10/180 Fr. Clemson, S.C. 30 Jack Mashburn TE 6-3/207 Fr. Covington first national championship since 2007 and fourth overall (2003 29 Michael Becker S 5-11/195 Fr. Clemson, S.C. 31 Cameron Lewis S 6-2/197 Jr. Monroe BCS, 1958 AP). 29 B.T. Potter PK 5-10/180 So. Rock Hill, S.C. 31 Thomas McGoey WR 6-0/187 Fr. Thibodaux 30 Keith Maguire LB 6-2/220 Fr. Media, Pa. Key Matchup 31 Mario Goodrich CB 6-0/190 So. Kansas City, Mo. 32 Avery Atkins PK 5-11/217 So. Auburn, Ala. Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons vs. LSU QB Joe Burrow. 33 Trey Palmer WR 6-1/180 Fr. Kentwood 32 Etinosa Reuben DT 6-3/285 Fr. Kansas City, Mo. Linebacker vs. might make you think Burrow is 32 Sylvester Mayers RB 5-6/150 So. Richmond, Va. 34 Lloyd Cole CB 6-0/200 Jr. Bossier City going to be running the triple-option, but Simmons is a different 34 Connor Culp PK 5-10/187 Jr. Phoenix 33 Ty Lucas RB 5-7/205 Fr. Columbus, Ga. kind of linebacker. The Butkus Award winner lines up all over the 35 Damone Clark LB 6-3/239 So. Baton Rouge 33 Ruke Orhorhoro DT 6-4/285 Fr. Lagos, Nigeria defense run by coordinator . Simmons could be 34 Logan Rudolph DE 6-2/245 So. Rock Hill, S.C. 36 Derian Moore S 6-1/215 So. Houma 35 Justin Foster DE 6-2/265 Jr. Shelby, N.C. 36 Cade York PK 6-2/189 Fr. Mckinney, Texas the best way for Clemson to fluster Burrow. Nothing has worked 36 Lannden Zanders S 6-1/195 Fr. Shelby, N.C. 38 P 6-5/240 Jr. Zachary so far this season as the winner has thrown for an SEC record 55 and 5,208 yards. 37 Tyler Traynham RB 5-5/165 Gr. Spartanburg, S.C. 39 Mike Williams DE 6-3/244 Fr. Baton Rouge 37 Jake Herbstreit CB 5-11/170 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. 41 Carlton Smith LB 6-3/243 So. Houston Players To Watch 38 Elijah Turner S 5-11/190 Jr. Pickens, S.C. 42 Hunter Faust LB 6-1/232 Fr. New Orleans Clemson: RB Travis Etienne. On an offense with an array of 39 Aidan Swanson P/PK 6-3/180 Fr. Tampa, Fla. 42 Aaron Moffitt TE 6-2/252 So. Baton Rouge elite playmakers, Etienne is the best and most versatile weapon. 40 Greg Williams DE 6-3/240 Fr. Swansea, S.C. 43 Preston Stafford PK 5-11/164 Fr. Pontotoc, Miss. The Jennings native ran for 1,538 yards and 8.0 per carry. Ohio 41 Jonathan Weitz PK 5-11/180 Fr. Charleston, S.C. 43 Ray Thornton LB 6-3/227 Jr. Killeen, Texas State slowed him down on the ground in the semifinal, only to 42 LaVonta Bentley LB 6-0/235 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. 44 Tory Carter FB 6-1/250 Jr. Valdosta, Ga. see him catch three passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. 43 Chad Smith LB 6-3/240 Gr. Sterling, Va. 44 Dylan ThompSo.n LB 6-1/258 Fr. Irving, Texas LSU: DE K’Lavon Chaisson. The Tigers had 35 sacks and 44 Nyles Pinckney DT 6-1/295 Gr. Beaufort, S.C. 45 Michael Divinity Jr.. LB 6-2/241 Sr. Marrero 45 Matt McMahan LB 6-0/205 Fr. Denver, N.C. Chaisson is far and away their best pass rusher. Injuries slowed 45 Stephen King TE 6-6/228 Fr. Alexandria, Va. 45 Josh Jackson WR 6-1/190 Jr. Greenville, S.C. 46 Andre Anthony LB 6-4/250 Jr. New Orleans the sophomore early, but he led the team with 6.5 sacks, 46 Jack Maddox LS 6-3/225 So. Acton, Mass. 47 Nelson Jenkins III DL 6-4/286 Fr. Maringouin including 4.5 the last three games. 47 Peter Cote S 5-9/180 So. Six Mile, S.C. 47 Quentin Skinner LS 6-0/253 Fr. Buford, Ga. Facts & Figures 47 LB 6-0/235 Jr. Sharpsburg, Ga. 48 Blake FerguSo.n LS 6-3/235 Sr. Smyrna, Ga. Clemson is on a 29-game winning streak, including 25-0 with 48 David Cote LB 5-11/200 Fr. Six Mile, S.C. 49 Jansen Mayea TE 6-3/239 Fr. New Iberia sophomore QB Trevor Lawrence starting. The Tigers can 48 Landon Holden LB 6-0/235 Jr. Inman, S.C. 48 Will Spiers P 6-5/225 Jr. Cameron, S.C. 49 Travez Moore LB 6-4/246 Jr. Bastrop become the 13th team in the history of major college football to 51 Dare Rosenthal OT 6-7/314 Fr. Ferriday 49 Matthew Maloney LB 6-0/200 Fr. Clemson, S.C. win 30 consecutive games, and the seventh team to accomplish 50 Kaleb Boateng OL 6-3/300 Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 52 Tayte Langley LB 6-3/245 Fr. Iota the feat since 1950. … Burrow has completed 77.6 percent of 53 Soni Fonua LB 6-3/274 Jr. Salt Lake City 51 Chase Guynup OL 6-0/335 Fr. Beaufort, S.C. his passes. The NCAA record is 76.7 percent by Texas’ Colt 52 Tyler Brown LS 6-0/215 Jr. Greenville, S.C. 54 Aaron Benfield LB 6-2/230 Fr. Thibodaux McCoy in 2008. … LSU won its last two national championships 52 Tayquon Johnson DT 6-2/320 Fr. Williamsport, Md. 55 Jarell Cherry DE 6-3/264 Fr. Dallas at the Superdome in New Orleans (2003 vs. Oklahoma and 53 Regan Upshaw DE 5-11/235 Jr. Bradenton, Fla. 57 Chasen Hines G 6-3/336 So. Marshall, Texas 2007 vs. Ohio State), and lost its last title game appearance 54 Mason Trotter OL 6-2/270 Fr. Roebuck, S.C. 58 Jared Small LB 6-0/213 So. Baton Rouge 55 Hunter Rayburn OL 6-4/315 Fr. Pensacola, Fla. 58 Kardell Thomas OL 6-3/329 Fr. Baton Rouge there to Alabama after the 2011 season. … Clemson head coach could become the 12th coach to win at 56 Will Putnam OL 6-4/295 Fr. Tampa, Fla. 59 Desmond Little LB 6-5/210 Fr. Prichard, Ala. 58 Patrick Phibbs LS 6-2/210 Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. 61 Cameron Wire OT 6-6/300 Fr. Gonzales least three national championships in the AP poll era. … LSU head coach is 11-3 against teams ranked in the top 59 Gage Cervenka OL 6-3/325 Gr. Greenwood, S.C. 62 Siaki Ika NT 6-4/354 Fr. Salt Lake City 59 Jordan Williams DT 6-4/310 So. Virginia Beach, Va. 63 Michael Smith OL 6-2/325 Jr. Killeen, Texas 10 at the time of the game. 60 Mac Cranford OL 6-0/280 Fr. Hartsville, S.C. 64 Austin Harden OL 6-1/310 Fr. Patterson The Associated Press 62 Cade Stewart OL 6-3/305 Jr. Six Mile, S.C. 65 Jakori Savage OL 6-6/294 Jr. Bay Minette, Ala. 63 Zac McIntosh OL 5-11/295 So. Belton, S.C. 68 Damien Lewis G 6-3/332 Sr. Canton, Miss. 65 Matt Bockhorst OG 6-4/310 So. Cincinnati, Ohio 69 Charles Turner OL 6-4/266 Fr. Canton, Ohio FOUR DOWNS 67 Will Edwards OT 6-5/255 Fr. Greenville, S.C. 70 Ed Ingram G 6-4/314 So. DeSo.to, Texas 69 Marquis Sease OL 5-11/280 So. Swansea, S.C. 71 Don. Campbell OL 6-5/360 Jr. Ponchatoula l NO EXCUSES: LSU has played only one game in the last five weeks. 71 Jordan McFadden OT 6-2/295 Fr. Spartanburg, S.C. 72 NT 6-3/346 So. Lafayette It’s one of the good things with the layoff until the bowl season and another 72 Blake Vinson OL 6-4/300 So. Ocala, Fla. 73 OL 6-4/343 Sr. Franklinton two-plus weeks before the national championship. The Tigers should be fresh 73 OT 6-2/315 Sr. Powder Springs, Ga. 74 Badara Traore OT 6-7/320 Sr. Boston and healthy, particularly key cog Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the running back 74 John Simpson OL 6-4/330 Sr. N. Charleston, S.C. 75 Anthony Bradford OL 6-7/355 Fr. Muskegon, Mich. who made only a cameo appearance due to an ankle sprain in the 76 Sean Pollard OL 6-5/310 Sr. Jackson Springs, N.C. 76 Austin Deculus OL 6-7/322 Jr. Mamou against Oklahoma. He’s 100 percent for tonight as is right guard Damien Lewis, 78 Chandler Reeves OL 6-6/290 Jr. McDonough, Ga. 77 OT 6-4/295 Jr. Jackson, Miss. who was last seen being carted off the field during the Peach Bowl. Plus, 79 OT 6-5/345 So. Fairfield, Ohio 78 Thomas Perry OL 6-6/341 Fr. Lafayette linebacker Michael Divinity, a key pass rusher, is back for the first time since the 80 Luke Price TE 6-2/230 So. Dillon, S.C. 81 Drew Swinney WR 5-8/180 Fr. Clemson, S.C. 79 III C 6-4/315 Jr. Carville Auburn game after coming off of a suspension. 82 Will Brown WR 5-8/180 So. Boiling Springs, S.C. 80 Jamal Pettigrew TE 6-6/258 Jr. New Orleans l 83 Carter Groomes WR 5-8/180 Jr. Central, S.C. 81 TE 6-3/249 Jr. Charlotte, N.C. ADJUST ON THE FLY: Ed Orgeron said it during Sunday’s final pre- game press conference — “This game is going to come down to adjustments 84 Davis Allen TE 6-6/240 Fr. Calhoun, Ga. 82 Brandon Hubicz TE 6-2/197 Fr. Baton Rouge made during the game.” In fact, it’s become a running joke between Heisman 85 Jaelyn Lay TE 6-6/270 Fr. Atlanta, Ga. 83 Jaray Jenkins WR 6-4/195 Fr. Jena quarterback Joe Burrow and the masterminds of LSU’s offense, coordinator 86 Tye Herbstreit WR 5-10/165 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. 84 TK McLendon TE 6-5/263 Jr. Soperton, Ga. and passing game coordinator Joe Brady. Burrow wonders 87 J.L. Banks TE 6-2/245 Sr. Madison, Ga. 85 Ray Parker DE 6-5/233 Fr. Ruston why they even bother studying film of opponents. Over the latter two-thirds 87 Hamp Greene WR 5-9/165 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. 86 Michael Martin WR 5-9/174 Fr. Weslaco, Texas of the season, as the Tigers’ dynamic offense took flight, every opposing 88 Braden Galloway TE 6-4/240 So. Anderson, S.C. 87 Evan Francioni WR 6-0/194 Fr. River Ridge defensive coordinator seemed to be trying to reinvent the wheel to slow it 89 Max May WR 6-1/190 Fr. Clemson, S.C. 89 Colby Brunet WR 6-0/194 Jr. Metairie down. Burrow studies film all week and then the defense he sees in the game 89 Tristan Walliser DE 6-3/225 Jr. Clover, S.C. 90 DL 6-2/308 Sr. Monroe looks nothing like what the opponent had done all year. Clemson defensive 90 Darnell Jefferies DT 6-2/280 Fr. Covington, Ga. 91 DL 6-2/291 Sr. Honolulu coordinator Brent Venables is one of the best and he’s had two weeks to come 91 Nick Eddis DT 5-11/265 So. Lawrence, Kan. 92 Neil Farrell Jr. DE 6-4/298 Jr. Mobile, Ala. up with something. No doubt it will be at least slightly different. That’s where 92 Klayton Randolph DE 6-2/235 Fr. Gaffney, S.C. 93 Justin Thomas DE 6-5/256 Jr. Daphne, Ala. Ensminger and Brady earn their keep, possibly having to come up with a Game 94 Jacob Edwards DT 6-2/295 So. Vestavia Hills, Ala. 94 Joseph Evans DL 6-2/288 Fr. Haynesville Plan B. 95 James Edwards DT 6-2/295 So. Vestavia Hills, Ala. 97 Glen Logan DE 6-4/309 Jr. Kenner 98 Steven Sawicki PK/P 6-3/240 Sr. Fayetteville, N.C. l KEEP IT IN FRONT: LSU’s season defensive statistics are a little deceiving, given that the Tigers have played so much better over the last four games of the season. The final straw was the Ole Miss game where the Rebels

01077736 had 614 yards of offense. Even in recent games, however, most of the lapses have come on big plays that skewered otherwise dominating performances. It’s partly the price you pay for playing mostly tight man-to-man coverage, but if LSU can cut Clemson’s gash plays to a minimum, they might avoided getting into a shoot-out that turns the game into a last-team-with-the-ball crap shoot.

l PREDICTION: The College football world is anxiously anticipating a 60-minute fireworks show. There will be enough of that, but look for two proud defenses to keep it from getting totally ridiculous. Joe Burrow barely gets the edge in a stare-down between the two best in the nation ... LSU, “Fresh Dressed Poultry” 36-32. Scooter Hobbs Quality, Fresh CUSTOM ORDERS Variety Meats and Refi nished Furniture and More Local Products — Est. 1969 —

Dennis Babineaux / Special to the American Press

01077592 4285 Hwy. 171 N Gillis LSU linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (18) sacks Oklahoma’s LAKE CHARLES 9-6 M-F • 9-2 Sat • 802-0027 • during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. 2808 Fruge St. • 337-433-6818