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'07 FL WR Matt Clements (South Carolina Verbal)

GoUpState

USC Big Leader From Clements

By Phil Kornblut
WR Matt Clements (6-1 185) of Naples, FL said Sunday night he's about a month away from committing to USC. "I'm just waiting to make an official visit September 16th," he said. 'I'm going to see how that goes and if that goes good, I'll make my commitment right there. They're my number one but I'm also looking at Ohio State and Pittsburgh. But right now I'd have to say South Carolina is my #1." Pittsburgh is second on his list followed by Ohio State. He will visit Pittsburgh officially September 2nd. Clements talked to his Gamecock recruiter Robert Gillespie Sunday night and that further reinforced his feelings. "I like just how hard they've been recruiting me," he said. "And I've watched a few of their games from last yeaer and I'm impressed with how they play. I've been checking up on them and I like the way they play ball." Clements also considered Clemson and Florida before trimming his list to a final three.
 
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Williams runs wild, Barron tops Estero

By Dana Oppedisano (Contact)
Saturday, August 19, 2006
You can bet that at some point during 2006, teams will force Matt Clements, the freakish athlete and converted receiver, to beat them with his arm.

You can also be sure, though, there will be plenty of nights like Friday’s exhibition against Estero, when the new Barron Collier quarterback won’t have to.
Tailback Greg Williams overshadowed his teammate’s debut under center, running for 146 yards and two touchdowns in about a quarter-a-half, pacing the Cougars to a 41-9 breeze over the visiting Wildcats.
The senior, who ran for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns for the 6-5 Cougars last season, both sped around end and bulled up the middle for a gaudy 18.2 yards per carry. In fact, his only runs shorter than 11 yards were a four-yard draw on his third carry and his first touchdown, a 3-yarder up the middle that gave Barron a 14-3 first quarter lead. He reeled off runs of 26, 19 and 24 yards, then added a 45-yard scoring jaunt down the right sideline to close his night with 11 minutes left in the first half.
Those numbers were fairly indicative of the first-team Cougar offense’s night as a whole.
In fact, for the first eight minutes and 24 in real time, it appeared as though only an act of God could have stopped Barron Collier’s ground game.
Then, sure enough, it did.
The Cougars were averaging 12 yards per snap, with Williams and Clements teaming for all 85 on an opening touchdown march when the first crack of lightning above campus turned the bleachers into potential conduits.
The 1-hour, 16-minute delay did little to dampen that momentum, though, as the hosts scored on their next four possessions (Williams’ runs, a 1-yard dive by Dennis Vinson and a 10-yard run by backup Mauro Candoli) to open a 35-3 halftime lead.


<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> <!-- var thumbs = new Array( 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818SP-BCFoot1_t180.JPG', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818SP-BCFoot2_t180.JPG', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818SP-BCFootFeech_t180.JPG', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot3_t180.JPG', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot04_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot05_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot06_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot07_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot08_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot09_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot10_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot11_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot14_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot13_t180.jpg', 'http://media.naplesnews.com/img/photos/2006/08/19/060818WEB-BCFoot12_t180.jpg' ); var credits = new Array( "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz", "Photo: David Ahntholz" ); var links = new Array( '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11994/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11995/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11996/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11997/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11998/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/11999/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12000/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12001/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12002/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12003/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12004/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12005/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12006/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12007/', '/photos/galleries/2006/aug/19/williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero/12008/' ); InlineSlideShow.create('gal_williams_runs_wild_barron_tops_estero', thumbs, links,credits); //--> </script> Barron was actually trailing, 3-0 after Marcus Klusacek’s 50-yard field goal, when the offense took the field for the first time under Clements. Head coach Bill Sparacio’s decision to put the ball in his hands every play — thereby making senior Sean Cullen, whose nine receptions last year were 41 fewer than Clements,’ the team’s leading returning receiver — looked like a sound one in its first unofficial test.
He ran for 12 yards on a bootleg around the left side on his first carry, then took his second and final tote 10 yards over the opposite end for the game’s first score in his maiden drive.
Even on plays that won’t make a box score, Clements displayed an athleticism and awareness that suggests an easy transition. He spun to see an empty backfield on a play negated by an illegal motion penalty with 7:25 in the first, and without hesitation bounced over the right side and into a sea of oncoming Wildcats. A spin and shoulder dip later, he was pushed out of bounds, and though it didn’t count toward the stats, the early outside runs put the ‘Cats on their heels as Williams took a delayed draw up the middle for 19 yards on the ensuing play.
He completed 2-of-4 passes for 25 yards, but overthrew a wide open John Casselbury over the middle on his first try, then watched Casselbury drop his last attempt with open yards ahead of the sophomore receiver on his last.
Estero, playing with an all-new offensive line and without its leading rusher from a year ago, likewise started in style before fizzling against the Barron defense. Caleb Nemitz (1-of-2) hit Chris Ferriera down the right side for all 60 of his passing yards on the game’s first play from scrimmage, then the Estero starters added 80 on the ground for a 228-140 deficit at the half.
Tim Shelley (41 yards) and Alex Lozada (51), who had a 7-yard fourth quarter touchdown run, provided the occasional spark for the Estero ground game, which lost bulling fullback Scott Lewis to an injury with nine minutes left.
Barron Collier opens the regular season at home on Friday against Lely, while the Wildcats kickoff 2006 against second-year rival South Fort Myers.
Linescore:
Estero: 3 - 0 - 0 - 6 — 9
Barron Collier: 21 - 14 - 6 - 0 — 41
- - -
Scoring:
E — Klusacek 50 field goal
BC — Clements 10 run (kick failed)
BC — Williams 3 run (Clements run)
BC — Williams 45 run (Vegara kick)
BC — Vinson 1 run (Vegara kick)
BC — Candoli 10 run (Vegara kick)
BC — Lawson 65 pass from Stephenson (kick failed)
E — Lozada 7 run (kick blocked)
 
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Questions face Barron; does it have answer?

By Jason A. Dixon (Contact)
Monday, August 21, 2006
Barron Collier's 41-9 victory over Estero in Friday night's preseason game may have proven what many football fans around Collier County already suspected: The Cougars are stocked with enough talent to make a serious run at a district title and, perhaps, a state championship.

Yet there are a series of questions surrounding Barron as the team prepares to open the regular season Friday night at home against Lely.
Can the Cougars stay healthy? Can senior Matt Clements efficiently lead the offense down the field in his first year at quarterback? Can the Cougars rely on their defense?
Barron answered those questions with a resounding "yes" Friday. But the question remains, how will Barron deal with the heavy expectations for success?
Fifth-year head coach Bill Sparacio can answer that one. It's a familiar situation.
"We have high expectations every year," Sparacio said. "Every team's different, but this is a lot of fun. The coaching staff I'm working with right now is a lot of fun. The kids are a lot of fun. I'm really excited to see what they can do."
The Cougars had a solid season a year ago — a 6-5 record and an appearance in the district playoffs — though BC lost some valuable seniors from that team, including quarterback Nick Caputo and offensive lineman Antonio Tassaro.
Photo by David Ahntholz / Daily News
Barron Collier running back Quin Thornton (8) breaks out the stiffarm against Estero defender Chris Ferriera, right, during the Cougars' preseason win Friday night in Naples.

Still, the experience left Barron hungering for another taste of the postseason.
And maybe more, because anything less would be unacceptable to senior free safety Mike Barry, the Cougars' top returning tackler.
"This year's different," said Barry, who has been drawing interest from Ivy League schools. "We just got a bunch of special guys who want to do big things. Our thing is whatever it takes, and our mind-set is that we expect to never fail, never give up, never give in to the opponent."
Clements, who led the team with 50 receptions last season, and senior running back Greg Williams, who rushed for 1,241 yards, figure to be the Cougars' key players. While both players have Division I coaches buzzing, Sparacio isn't worried about them performing for the scouts this season.
"I know their hearts," Sparacio said. "They're Barron Collier Cougars and we're family. They play for us, they play for each other, they play for themselves. And when they move on to big-time college ball, if that's what the Lord's plans are, then they'll play for Clemson, South Carolina, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, whoever."
Even though Clements is being recruited as a receiver, quarterbacks and receivers coach Steve De La Notte said Clements is looking good under center. Sparacio likes what he sees, too.
Sparacio also likes his team's depth and is looking for big contributions from Orlando Aizcorbe, Quin Thornton and Tim Vasquez, among others. So, with his mind focused on the start of the regular season, Sparacio said he's looking forward to a tough opener against Lely.
"I know that every team we play is going to play hard against us like they do every year," Sparacio said. "It's always fun to play against Lely. Our games are real intense and they're always hard-fought, so we're looking forward to that."
•••
The Cougars
Coach: Bill Sparacio, 5th year
2005 Record: (6-5, 4-1) Class 4A-District 15
Key Losses: QB Nick Caputo, OL Antonio Tassaro, CB Glenn Goodrich
Key Returnees: QB Matt Clements, sr.; RB Greg Williams, sr.; FS Mike Barry, sr.; DL Cougar Norris, sr.
Newcomer to watch: RB/CB Quin Thornton, fresh.
Top college prospects: Clements, Williams, Barry, TE Sean Cullen
 
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GoUpState

September 03, 2006

Race Tightens For Clements

By Phil Kornblut
USC had been sitting on a comfortable lead for WR Matt Clements (6-1 185) of Naples, FL before he made an official visit to Pittsburgh over the weekend. But after spending the weekend with the Panthers, Clements says the Gamecocks' lead is gone, at least for now. "The players, the coaches and the facilities, I liked them a lot," Clements said. "I got to talk one on one with coach Wannstedt and got the chance to meet the whole staff." Clements will make his official visit to USC September 16th and that visit will be crucial in his decision making process. "I'm going to wait and see how everything goes," Clements said. "I'm just going to have to weigh my options and see what's best for me. They are both pretty even right now." Clements does not have any other official visits planned at this point. He said he will try to talk with Gamecock recruiter Robert Gillespie Monday.
 
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Why would that be?
Robiskie, Hartline, Dukes, Lyons, Small, Saine, Sanzenbacher, Washington, possibly Clifford, plus the chance to get a true impact player like Greg Little (official visit 9/23 for Penn State game). Then 2008 rolls around, with talent like DeAndre Preaster (Utica, New York); Cordale Scott (Cleveland Glenville); Johnny Adams (Akron Buchtel); etc. Too much young talent at WR, which is a good problem to have.
 
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