By Will Vandervort (Contact / Staff Bio)
April 10, 2008 - 12:15 a.m. EST

CLEMSON — The “Mad Scientist” is at it again.

Though he would not divulge into any specifics following Wednesday’s last practice before the annual Orange and White Game Saturday, Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence did confirm he is thinking of some ways to maybe get backup quarterback Willy Korn on the field this fall, and it appears it isn’t going to be at quarterback.

The news of maybe using Korn in some kind of special package for certain situations broke when head coach Tommy Bowden offered up the nugget to the media following practice.

“I’d rather not say, but Rob has some ideas that we are going to be looking at,” Bowden said.

Spence would not say what those ideas were, obviously, but he did say he is contemplating the idea of doing something special with the redshirt freshman quarterback.

“I haven’t thought about it a bunch, but I have different things available for him to do, but it would involve more possibly different parts of the field,” he said.

Spence made it a point that if a package or set of special plays are put in for Korn, it has nothing to do with trying to get Korn on the field in order to keep him happy.

“Willy is in that position right now. He is watching, observing and learning right now… I’m not a two-quarterback guy, but with that being said, if there are things I can do to involve him and Cullen in a personnel group, then that is possible,” he said.

Korn has appeared to handle and embrace his role as the second-team quarterback well to this point, and as a matter of fact, has enjoyed not having the spotlight and the constant bombardment from the media this spring.

“It’s a lot more laid back for me from that standpoint,” he said. “Not having to worry about getting all the attention. It’s just nice to be able to work at what you’re doing and practice football.”

Spence has been pleased with the way his young quarterback has handled his role this spring.

“Willy has handled that extremely well. He has a tremendous sense of team and he is an excellent leader,” Spence said. “He is a tremendous competitor, and he goes out there and competes everyday.

“I think he has handled it as well as you can handle it as a backup quarterback right now.”

Offense gets the nod. The offense got the best of the defense Wednesday during a mini scrimmage. On first-and-10 situations, the defense did a solid job stopping the run with sometimes eight guys in the box. But when the offense went to the air, things turned out different.

“Every time we attacked the perimeter we were very successful,” Bowden said. “In goal line the offense won most of the time.”

Bowers will play. Bowden would not say whether or not Da'Quan Bowers would start in the season-opener against Alabama, but he did say fans can expect to see Clemson’s star recruit play early at the Georgia Dome.

“It’s just a matter of how soon,” he said. “It will be either the first play or the fifth play.”

Bowers’ physical skills for a player who is still supposed to be in high school has impressed the Clemson coach the most. Bowden said he has never had a player this well developed along the offensive and defensive lines out of high school.

“He has good flexibility, acceleration speed and balance. It’s not just his size,” he said. “We have signed plenty of guys his size, but none with the skills he has.”

Bowden also likes Bowers’ football instincts.

“They’re not polished, but they are good for a guy who is supposed to be in high school,” he said. “He is a little behind on some of his pass rushing technique and chase technique as a defensive end when the ball is away. Those are things that need polish, but he has time. He has only been out here 13 days.”