Clemson went into spring drills with such a solid group of returning veterans that the Tigers could afford to look at several players in new positions.

Rendrick Taylor, who has 46 receptions in 27 games in three injury-plagued years at wide receiver, opened the spring at linebacker. After just four practices, however, he moved back to offense, but at running back, not receiver.

Running back is a loaded position at Clemson, however, with James Davis and C.J. Spiller heading the list, but at 6-2, 246, Taylor could be a strong inside runner. He'll get a chance for more work because Davis slightly injured his shoulder in a scrimmage and coach Tommy Bowden wisely decided to sit him down for the final couple of weeks of workouts.

In other moves, junior Sadat Chambers, who looked to be buried on the depth chart at running back behind Davis, Spiller and a couple of freshmen, moved to safety, where he played as a freshman.

Jock McKissic, who started 12 games on defense in 2006, switched to offensive tackle, a position of need for the Tigers. They lose four starters in the interior offensive line.

And Mike Wade, a backup safety in 2007, moved back to quarterback, the position he held in 2006 when he was redshirted. He will continue to hold for placekicks.

Though it's common enough to see teams tinker with a player's position in the spring, that Clemson could afford to move such key people says a lot about how the Tigers stand in 2008.

They have 15 starters returning on both sides of the ball plus both their specialists, making them the likely preseason favorite in the Atlantic Division.

Clemson's spring game is April 12.

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