Clemson vs. Oklahoma: Unheralded Players Who Will Impact Orange Bowl 2015
By this point, anyone remotely in tune to this year's College Football Playoff is well aware of the superstars taking the field in the Orange Bowl semifinal between Clemson and Oklahoma.
Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson has been remarkable in his sophomore season in which he’s completed 69.5 percent of his passes and churned out 4,399 all-purpose yards and 41 total touchdowns.
The Tigers likely wouldn’t be college football’s last unbeaten without Watson at the helm.
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The same can be said for his counterpart at quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has revitalized a once-stagnant Sooners offense into one that could catapult dark-horse Oklahoma to a title.
But Thursday’s Orange Bowl extends well past a quarterback duel. Here is a look at a few other participants who have flown under the radar in the lengthy lead-up who could make an impact in either team’s run to reach the championship game.
OFFENSE: Oklahoma WR Durron Neal
The Sooners have as talented a receiving corps as any, and the development of those behind star Sterling Shepard has opened the offense up into its current thriving form.
Senior Durron Neal is the epitome of unheralded, having underachieved most of his career before finding success in 2015. As Mayfield's third option, Neal has hauled in 42 passes for 527 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Neal caught just two passes for five yards in the Sooners’ 40-6 loss to the Tigers in their meeting last year, but since that game he’s playing with a different mentality.
“I’m just playing with a lot more confidence,” Neal said, per Justin Hite of Scout.com. “I’m having a lot more fun out there.”
Shepard will steal much of the attention from Clemson’s secondary, which should open aerial lanes for Neal to have an impactful performance as his college career comes to a close.
DEFENSE: Clemson DE Kevin Dodd
Dodd hasn’t necessarily been overshadowed by fellow defensive end Shaq Lawson, but the junior has far exceeded expectations since transferring from Hargrave Military Academy.
After losing its entire defensive line from last season, Clemson hasn’t flinched. The Tigers have allowed just 128.8 rush yards per game and have posted an FBS sixth-best 38 sacks, including 18 from Lawson and Dodd—both of whom rank among the top six in the ACC in the category.
Oklahoma hasn’t seen a pass rush of Clemson’s caliber, and Mayfield may be in for a rude awakening.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Clemson K Greg Huegel
Placekicker Greg Huegel may be Clemson’s most unsung player of the season—head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t even know his name during fall camp.
A walk-on freshman, Huegel went on to connect for an ACC-best 88 percent of his field goals, nailing 22 of 25 attempts with a long of 47.
He’s booted a successful field goal in every game this season with the exception of the season opener, though he didn’t make an attempt in that contest.
He may not have the strongest leg, but given his ability to thrive out of nowhere, he has the chance to continue his unheralded journey on Clemson’s biggest stage.
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