Written by Erik Slaby
There have been several running themes so far in the lead up to the Sugar Bowl matchup between Alabama and Clemson. In addition to the fact that these teams are playing for a third time in three years, two of the major themes are the play of Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who has been successful in the past two matchups against Alabama and that the Crimson Tide is ready to take the field and to avenge their loss to Clemson from last year.
Renfrow put on a show against Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, with one of them being the game-winner. Alabama players have also talked extensively about his play. And, his coaches and teammates have spoken at length about him as a person and his play on the field. Specifically, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott spoke about Renfrow and what his first impressions of him were.
“Is this guy going to survive?” laughed Elliott. “I'm here with all these Division I athletes. He showed up. He's a small guy, unassuming, doesn't look like a football player. But the moment he took off running and we saw him catch the ball, just his knack for the game, we knew he'd have a chance to compete.”
Elliott also spoke about Renfrow’s work ethic and how that helps him perform at a high level against top-notch opponents. “I think it just goes back to who he is at his core, his belief system. Very, very confident, very, very humble. He understands it's a privilege to be out there. Every day, when he comes to practice, he treats it like it's a privilege. His attention to detail is unbelievable. He's got a coach's mind, grew up in a coaching household. He understands what it takes to be successful, and that's why he's able to compete.”
Renfrow himself stated that his performance in practice is why he believes he’s so effective in games. “I think the biggest things are the way I practice and prepare. The guys that get open in practice are the guys that the quarterbacks throw to in a game.”
Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will likely draw the assignment of covering Renfrow, stated that it’s difficult for a defense to cover him because of how shifty he is and because there are other good wide receivers around him, you don’t want to have to double-team him.
““He just does the job really well. He’s not going to out-physical you or outrun you. He gets the ball out in space, makes people miss, and he’s a real shifty guy, smaller guy, so it’s hard to tackle him in space. So, you know, when he does that, then he also has great receivers around him, so you really just can’t focus on him. So, when you have that challenge he proposes, it’s very hard in the secondary, linebackers, to stop a player like him.”
The specter of losing to Clemson last year looms large for Alabama heading into this game. Though most players did not mention it much and shied away from stating that the loss is motivating them, it was clear from their faces that they are eager to take the field and prove to the world that they are better than Clemson. Alabama defensive back Levi Wallace spoke briefly about the potential revenge factor in this game but shied away from it for the most part.
“Yeah it’s (the revenge factor) always in the back of your mind but we can’t focus on what happened last year,” said Wallace. “We just have to move forward. It’s a different Clemson team, different quarterback, different skilled positions. We have to keep moving forward how we want to.”
Conversely, fellow Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison talked about the loss and its’ effect on the team. “The loss last year is definitely on our minds and in our hearts. It has made us focused and prepared.”
A melancholic Harrison also spoke about watching the film of the loss in preparation for this game. “We watched a lot of film. We watched that whole game. I probably watched that game over 50 times. That week, after we lost, I probably watched that game 10 times.”
Harrison continued with saying that he watched the film that extensively to find out, “how we lost? Why we lost? What happened? How it all unfolded for the whole game. You just try to learn from it,” said Harrison. “I just feel like in the end, we just didn’t have enough… We just didn’t bring it. We didn’t have the right answers. But I feel like this year, guys know that they have to finish. We’re ready for that.”
Much like it has been in the previous two matchups, the play of Renfrow will be key so it will be interesting to see how Alabama will cover him and if they’ve learned from their mistakes against him. In this game, Harrison stated that the Alabama players have to make “sure you’re righting your wrongs.”
The Sugar Bowl takes place on January 1st, 2018 at 8:45 EST at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Renfrow put on a show against Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, with one of them being the game-winner. Alabama players have also talked extensively about his play. And, his coaches and teammates have spoken at length about him as a person and his play on the field. Specifically, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott spoke about Renfrow and what his first impressions of him were.
“Is this guy going to survive?” laughed Elliott. “I'm here with all these Division I athletes. He showed up. He's a small guy, unassuming, doesn't look like a football player. But the moment he took off running and we saw him catch the ball, just his knack for the game, we knew he'd have a chance to compete.”
Elliott also spoke about Renfrow’s work ethic and how that helps him perform at a high level against top-notch opponents. “I think it just goes back to who he is at his core, his belief system. Very, very confident, very, very humble. He understands it's a privilege to be out there. Every day, when he comes to practice, he treats it like it's a privilege. His attention to detail is unbelievable. He's got a coach's mind, grew up in a coaching household. He understands what it takes to be successful, and that's why he's able to compete.”
Renfrow himself stated that his performance in practice is why he believes he’s so effective in games. “I think the biggest things are the way I practice and prepare. The guys that get open in practice are the guys that the quarterbacks throw to in a game.”
Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will likely draw the assignment of covering Renfrow, stated that it’s difficult for a defense to cover him because of how shifty he is and because there are other good wide receivers around him, you don’t want to have to double-team him.
““He just does the job really well. He’s not going to out-physical you or outrun you. He gets the ball out in space, makes people miss, and he’s a real shifty guy, smaller guy, so it’s hard to tackle him in space. So, you know, when he does that, then he also has great receivers around him, so you really just can’t focus on him. So, when you have that challenge he proposes, it’s very hard in the secondary, linebackers, to stop a player like him.”
The specter of losing to Clemson last year looms large for Alabama heading into this game. Though most players did not mention it much and shied away from stating that the loss is motivating them, it was clear from their faces that they are eager to take the field and prove to the world that they are better than Clemson. Alabama defensive back Levi Wallace spoke briefly about the potential revenge factor in this game but shied away from it for the most part.
“Yeah it’s (the revenge factor) always in the back of your mind but we can’t focus on what happened last year,” said Wallace. “We just have to move forward. It’s a different Clemson team, different quarterback, different skilled positions. We have to keep moving forward how we want to.”
Conversely, fellow Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison talked about the loss and its’ effect on the team. “The loss last year is definitely on our minds and in our hearts. It has made us focused and prepared.”
A melancholic Harrison also spoke about watching the film of the loss in preparation for this game. “We watched a lot of film. We watched that whole game. I probably watched that game over 50 times. That week, after we lost, I probably watched that game 10 times.”
Harrison continued with saying that he watched the film that extensively to find out, “how we lost? Why we lost? What happened? How it all unfolded for the whole game. You just try to learn from it,” said Harrison. “I just feel like in the end, we just didn’t have enough… We just didn’t bring it. We didn’t have the right answers. But I feel like this year, guys know that they have to finish. We’re ready for that.”
Much like it has been in the previous two matchups, the play of Renfrow will be key so it will be interesting to see how Alabama will cover him and if they’ve learned from their mistakes against him. In this game, Harrison stated that the Alabama players have to make “sure you’re righting your wrongs.”
The Sugar Bowl takes place on January 1st, 2018 at 8:45 EST at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.