Rumph ready to test defensive ends

CLEMSON — This spring, Clemson defensive ends coach Chris Rumph says he’s going to “throw guys out there and see what sticks, see who makes it, who survives.”

He’ll have plenty to work with. Despite the loss of potential first-round pick Ricky Sapp, Rumph returns a deep roster of ends as the Tigers begin spring drills with the first of 15 practices Sunday; the spring game is set for 4 p.m. April 10.

With beastly junior Da’Quan Bowers, rising star junior Andre Branch, talented sophomore Malliciah Goodman and redshirt junior Kourtnei Brown on board, Rumph should expect some serious competition. That competition, he says, is open.

“The best two guys are going to play at end, hands-down,” Rumph said. “I just bought a house. I like it, my wife likes it. I’m going to get the two best guys out there, unless you’ve got some room for me (at your house).”

Branch, perhaps surprisingly, leads the way. He didn’t start a game last fall, but had 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Rumph loves his leadership skills, too.

“I think the leader is probably Andre Branch,” he said. “He has a following. He might be the Jimmy Swaggart of my room. I think Branch, the kids really attract to him, for whatever reason.

“He’s a great kid, great person. He’s funny, he’s serious, but he also works hard. When we’re running, you won’t hear his name called out for loafing or not giving great effort. He has a 3.0, academics, he’s never in trouble, he’s a model guy.”

Productive, too.

“If you look back on (last season) he’s one of the guys that made a big play, big tackle every game from start to finish,” Rumph said. “He’s a big motor guy, effort guy. He’s probably not as fluid looking as Ricky or Da’Quan, but look at productivity and he’s right up there with him. He’s a natural leader. He has to mature, has some silliness in him, but I think this winter has been really good for him. I’ve seen a difference in him since we got back (working) with him.”

Bowers will battle for a starting role, too; he started 11 games as a sophomore but was hampered by a knee injury which sidelined him for two games and limited him in the second half of the season. Still, he had 58 tackles, 11 for loss, and three sacks.

He has lost weight; he played 2009 at 285-290 pounds, and is now at 280, although Rumph would like to see him at 275. His major focus will be getting his knee completely healthy — “He’s got to trust it,’ Rumph says.

“I think he was really feeling himself (before the injury), understanding the defense and what he was doing, He has the ability to take over the game,” Rumph said. “I want him to be a person where the first thing the offensive coordinator says on Sunday is, ‘How do I block 93?’ That’s what we want out of him.”

Goodman – who had 31 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks as a true freshman — will also compete for major playing time.

“I think that stare he had at the beginning of the year started to lessen as the season went along,” Rumph said. “It was a really good season for him to get thrown in the fire. coming from West Florence, he was the biggest, strongest, fastest guy on the team, and most of the time he took advantage of that. Coming here, getting thrown in with some of those guys, forced him to do things and it really helped him.”

The wild-card could be Brown, who redshirted last fall in hopes of gaining more playing time over his final two seasons.

Rumph said that Brown has bulked up to 260 pounds, “the heaviest he’s ever been in his life,” and is “the most athletic guy in our room.” Redshirting, Rumph said, helped him learn how to be a defensive end and polish his craft.

“(The redshirt year) worked on his toughness,” Rumph said. “He was coming from a small private school, mainly a basketball situation. (Offensive line) coaches (Brad) Scott and (Danny) Pearman did a good job putting him in situations where he had to be tough, beat him up all year and just forced him to be tough. I think he realized that paid off.”

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