THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 1995 TAG: 9508230637
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CLEMSON, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
When Tony DeSue hears anyone mention the big changes that have occurred in recent years at Clemson, once the king of ACC football, he nods his head in complete agreement.
Not only has the former Kempsville High star witnessed the team's fall from power, he also has endured a major personal change.
In Virginia Beach, DeSue was an All-America running back, rushing for 3,756 yards and scoring 42 touchdowns in three seasons.
These days, DeSue has given up on his dream of duplicating his high school exploits on the college field.
He has moved across the line of scrimmage, where he hopes to become one of the answers to the Tigers' main problem - a shortage of linebackers.
DeSue made the shift during the second week of spring practice and played outside linebacker in the spring game.
Tuesday, he was listed No. 1 on a depth chart that changes frequently as second-year coach Tommy West seeks to solve his team's defensive concern.
All four starting linebackers last season - Tim Jones, Mike Barner, Darnell Stephens and Wardell Rouse - were in NFL camps this summer.
One of the more experienced Clemson returnees is Chuck Winslow, a senior from Green Run High in Virginia Beach who is expected to start at inside linebacker.
West signed eight freshmen linebackers, but he doesn't want to begin the year with any of them starting.
``It is hard for freshmen to come in and play linebacker,'' DeSue said during lunch in the team cafeteria Tuesday.
``The coaches decided to get some guys who have been around the program to fill the holes.''
Two former quarterbacks, Patrick Sapp and Dexter McCleon, also have moved to defensive positions.
``It is a big challenge,'' said DeSue, who has beefed up to about 210 pounds, ``but at this point I just want the chance to play anywhere.''
DeSue, a red-shirt junior, was recruited by former coach Ken Hatfield, who never won approval of Clemson fans after replacing Danny Ford despite winning the ACC title in 1991, the season before DeSue arrived.
The next season, when DeSue was red-shirted, the Tigers dropped to 5-6 and finished seventh in the ACC.
The Tigers finished 9-3 in 1993, but the record didn't make Hatfield any more popular with fans.
West, a former Ford assistant at Clemson, replaced Hatfield at the end of the season and led the team to a 14-13 win over Kentucky in the Peach Bowl.
Clemson had another 5-6 record last season as lapses in recruiting the past few years were felt.
West had only 74 scholarship players out of a maximum 85 last year, and says he still doesn't know how such a situation developed.
``But more surprising than that,'' West said, ``is that Clemson would ever have a shortage at linebacker.
``That is a position where we have always excelled, and right now we don't have a one who will be mentioned on the preseason all-conference team.''
West said it is not ``real hard'' for a tailback to switch to linebacker, but it is difficult to do in just one season.
``There are a lot more things involved in playing linebacker than tailback,'' DeSue agreed. ``You have to pick up certain reads and can't just rely on set plays.''
DeSue's speed - 4.6 in the 40 - makes him one of the fastest linebackers in the conference, and coaches say they like his desire.
DeSue suffered a knee injury in an all-star game before arriving at Clemson and a similar injury his sophomore year set back his tailback ambitions.
But he never has been bitter about his fortunes at Clemson.
``Sure, I've had people to tell me that I should transfer, and people wonder what might have happened if I had gone to some other school. I hear that a lot when we play Virginia,'' he said with a smile.
``What they don't understand is the biggest reason I came here was to get a good education, and I have done that.''
DeSue, a marketing major, will graduate next spring and play his fifth year as a graduate student. His family moved to Atlanta, a couple of hours away, about 18 months ago.
DeSue said Clemson fans have united behind West. He is optimistic the Tigers will give them something to cheer about this season.
``I feel it is going to be one of our best seasons since I have been here,'' DeSue said. ``There is better balance on both sides of the ball.'' ILLUSTRATION: A rare shortage of linebackers at Clemson has sent Tony DeSue to
the defensive huddle.
by CNB