Published: Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2008 12:57 PM

Bowden to start young offensive line

COLUMBIA -- Clemson will likely start three freshmen along the offensive line against North Carolina State, the first time that's happened since the U.S. government drafted upperclassmen to serve in World War II.

It happened in 1943, when all of Clemson's juniors and seniors were drafted. This time, the change is due to a motor scooter accident.

Starting tackle Chris Hairston hurt his knee in the minor crash and will likely miss the Tigers' Atlantic Coast Conference opener with the Wolfpack on Saturday. That means Landon Walker would join fellow redshirt freshmen Mason Cloy and David Smith in the starting lineup.

"This shows how you have to be ready to go at any time," Clemson running back C.J. Spiller said.

Cloy and Smith started last week's 45-17 win over The Citadel.

Cloy was at right guard, filling in for starter Barry Humphries, who was hurt in Clemson's 34-10 opening-week loss to Alabama. Smith came at left guard, replacing a largely ineffective Jamarcus Grant.

Humphries had surgery last week. He'll be reevaluated after six weeks to determine when or if he'll return.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Hairston was injured when he went over a bump on his motorized scooter and bruised his knee, according to an account from Tigers offensive line coach Brad Scott.

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden says if Walker plays, it'll make offensive preparations that much more difficult at a time the Tigers are usually beefing up their attack instead of simplifying it. "Offensive line is probably the toughest position to play," Bowden said. "With the defensive guys a foot and a half away, there's no margin for error."

At least Walker got in last week's game for 23 snaps. The Tigers of 65 years ago had no similar preparations before the United States drafted all the school's juniors and seniors. Research done by the Clemson sports information department showed that after the mass exodus, the Tigers used five freshmen -- Ralph Jenkins, Tom Salisbury, Donald Simpson, Pitts Seay and Chick Gainer -- for their final four games.

Clemson went 1-3 during that stretch, but Bowden is hoping for a little better luck this time.

The Tigers came into the season No. 9 in the country and favorites for an ACC title. However, the Alabama loss knocked them from the poll and No. 20 Wake Forest (the ACC's only ranked team) may have eclipsed them as the people's choice for a crown.

Inserting freshmen into offensive line slots probably won't help.

The group, which featured four new starters from a year ago, was already earmarked as Clemson's biggest offensive question mark. Those fears looked well-founded after the Crimson Tide manhandled the Tigers, holding them to zero yards rushing.

Things were a little better last week as Spiller and James Davis combined for four touchdowns and 182 yards rushing. Still, it came against a Championship Subdivision opponent, so the true tests start Saturday.

Clemson center Thomas Austin, a junior who started last season, and junior tackle Cory Lambert whose first start came in last December's Chick-fil-A Bowl, fill out the Tigers line.

Bowden and Scott will preach attention to detail to the line, modifying practice to make sure Tiger lineman will stand up against the Wolfpack, which ranks 61st in total defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A.

Spiller says he and Davis, the team's "Thunder and Lightning" duo, will do their part, too.

"We're keeping their confidence high," he said. "We're encouraging them as much as we can in practice."

And in games, "We can block better, too," Spiller added. "We can make sure we run through arm tackles."

If not, having so many young linemen could get old real fast for the Tigers and their fans.