CLEMSON — It’s now official, Clemson’s Rendrick Taylor will redshirt this upcoming season. Clemson coach Tommy Bowden made the announcement following Saturday’s second scrimmage of fall camp inside Death Valley.

The former wide receiver turned tailback says he isn’t disappointed by the news, and in fact looks at this as a positive move in helping his football career, while finishing up his education.

“It gives me a great opportunity to get my body back in shape,” he said. “I got a little heavy during the camp. It also gives a chance to focus on my school work, graduate and possibly comeback and work on my masters.”

Taylor currently weighs 258 pounds, which is well ahead of his 240-pound playing weight of the past three seasons. He said he has weighed as much 260 pounds this summer. His goal is to use this redshirt season to get his weight down to 235.

“I feel a little heavy right now. At 235 I will be able to be faster and be more elusive and can get out of my cuts better,” he said. “I feel like it is just a blessing.”

Taylor says the redshirt is a blessing because the coaches could have allowed him to finish out his career, where it would be unlikely he would play with guys like James Davis and C.J. Spiller starting and true freshmen Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington making waves in practice.

“The coaches see a lot in me and most guys would not have the opportunity to redshirt,” he said. “If they didn’t see anything in me, then I don’t think they would waste a scholarship by redshirting me so I’m grateful they believe in me.”

Taylor has shown glimpse in his career as wide receiver of being a special player. He has 46 career receptions for 480 yards and a touchdown, including three receptions for 53 yards at N.C. State last year, including a 35-yard catch. Even though he suffered with a hamstring injury for much of the 2007 season, he finished fourth on the squad with 25 catches for 259 yards.

Injuries have plagued the Clio native for much of his career. In 2005, he broke his wrist and played much of the season with a wrap over his hand. In 2006, he broke his arm halfway through the year after starting the season as one of Clemson’s top offensive weapons with 12 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Though he can’t play this season, Taylor says he is going to do all he can do to contribute in some way.

“It’s going to be hard, but I feel like I will still have a role in motivating the guys and using the little experience that I have to get Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington ready to play,” he said. “I still have a role, even if I will not be able to benefit.”

Saturday, Taylor led all Clemson runners in the scrimmage with 45 yards on seven carries. It was his first significant action since returning to practice last Tuesday. He took several days off the week before to tend to personal issues back home. The decision to redshirt him was made before he left camp, which is why Bowden permitted his request in the first place.

“I was eager to get out here and play,” Taylor said about the scrimmage. “I had not been in camp for a while and I was eager to come out and get back into the swing of things. It was awesome.”

Harper Injured. Freshman running back Jamie Harper suffered a sprained ankle on his fourth carry of the scrimmage and did not return after the injury. X-rays were negative. It is not known how long Harper will be out of action.

Sat out. Bowden sat out several of his top players in the scrimmage. Defensive end Ricky Sapp did not play in the scrimmage, while Davis and Spiller played no more than 10 plays each. Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons were also pulled from the scrimmage early.

“We pulled some of the veterans on both sides of the ball early. Because of that you lose continuity and rhythm on both sides of the ball,” Bowden said. “I don’t want the team to be discouraged
, but we have to find out now who are the best guys.”

Scrimmage. Quarterback Cullen Harper got off to a good start in the scrimmage by taking the first-team offense 70 yards for a touchdown against the first-team defense that was minus Sapp, Hamlin and Clemons. He connected on 3-of-3 passes for 66 yards on the drive, including a 25-yard scoring pass to C.J. Spiller. He also connected with Aaron Kelly on a 30-yard pass during the drive.

For the day, Harper was 7-of-12 for 129 yards and the touchdown. He did not throw an interception.

Backup quarterback Willy Korn had a solid day, connecting on 15-of-25 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. He did not throw an interception. Korn threw a 21-yard scoring pass to Jacoby Ford early in the scrimmage.

The receiving statistics were well distributed. Kyle Johnson, a graduate of East Carolina who transferred to Clemson this year and will be eligible to play for the Tigers as a graduate student, had four receptions for 30 yards to lead all pass catchers. Aaron Kelly had 3-51. Michael Palmer had 2-32 and Brian Linthicum had 2-21 to lead the tight ends.

The defense had some strong performances also. Linebacker Brandon Maye led all tacklers with six, while Jeremy Campbell had five. Andre Branch had three sacks from his defensive end position and had four tackles overall.

Reserve linebacker Kantrell Brown had the only turnover when he intercepted a pass.

Richard Jackson had a good day as a placekicker. He made field goals of 50, 40 and 37 yards. Mark Buchholz made a 44-yarder, but missed from 41. Bowden said freshman Dawson Zimmerman again had the best day punting the ball.

Scrimmage stats

Rushing (Att-Yds)

R. Taylor 7-45-1, Watson 3-44, Ellington 10-23, J. Harper 4-14, C. Harper

2-11, Macko 3-10, Spiller 3-3, Davis 2-3, Jones 1-3

Passing (Com-Att-Yds-TD-int)

Harper 7-12-129-1-0; Korn 15-25-151-1-0; Parker 3-7-24-0-0; Wade 1-3-6-0-1

Receiving (Rec-Yds-TD)

Johnson 4-30; Kelly 3-51, Palmer 3-32; Linthicum 2-21, Ashe 2-20, Macko

2-17, Spiller 1-28-1, Ford 1-21-1, Brown 1-7, Dye 1-26, Clear 1-6, Allen

1-13, Watson 1-4, Jones 1-8

Tackles

Maye 6, Campbell 5, Hall 4, Branch 4, Conner 4, Maxwell 3, Bowers 3,

Gilchrist 3, Hunter 3, Alexander 3, Chancellor 3,

Tackles for Loss

Branch 3-17, Alexander 3-16, Andrews 1-2, Bowers 1-3

Interceptions

Kantrell Brown 1-0