Another picture-perfect day on the practice fields at Clemson.

-- Talked to Jock McKissic today about his move from defensive tackle to offensive tackle. He's only been through three practices, but he feels good about his progress and potential. He said the coaches approached him late last season and asked him if he'd be interested in moving, and after a lot of thought he finally decided to do it a week before spring practice began. He's currently splitting reps at left tackle with Cory Lambert, and he says he thinks his quickness will help in the transition. Offensive line coach Brad Scott said McKissic has a long way to go, but Scott seemed to really like his potential. Scott said he can't think of many other linemen he's had who've been capable of retaining as much information this quickly. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound McKissic, who' s preparing for his final year in orange, said the new position will give him a better shot at playing at the next level.

-- Speaking of Lambert, he looks and sounds like a man on a mission. The redshirt junior fully admits there are no more excuses now with Barry Richardson gone. "I'm at the top, which is where I've always wanted to be," he said. "There's no more Barry Richardson backing me up. I'm first team. I need to deal with it."

-- Rendrick Taylor sounded encouraged by his first day in full pads as a linebacker. He said he knocked helmets pretty hard with offensive linemen Chris Hairston and Jamarcus Grant. Taylor missed some of the session because of class, but he said he did better than he expected. Taylor is still very much leaving open the possibility of going back to receiver. He said if he doesn't catch on at linebacker through the first seven or eight practices, he'll move back. But he still appears to have a lot of hope that he'll stick at his current position.

-- Tommy Bowden is impressed with early enrollee Marquan Jones, enough that Bowden is already predicting Jones will avoid a redshirt in 2008. Bowden likes Jones' hands and says he "can show out."

-- Linebacker Brandon Maye gave receiver Terrance Ashe a concussion by knocking him out of the first half of practice, Bowden said.

-- Bowden said quarterback Kyle Parker has velocity "as good as anybody out there."

-- Quarterback Willy Korn said he was officially granted a medical redshirt a few weeks ago. That's not a surprising revelation, but figured I'd let everyone know. He now has all four years of eligibility remaining.

OK for now,
LW

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