Clemson went through its eighth practice of August camp today. Dabo Swinney was not able to make it back in time from his father's funeral in Alabama. He's scheduled to be back tomorrow when the Tigers go through their second two-a-day of camp.
Some interesting nuggets we've picked up over the past few days:
-- During a team meeting last week, Clemson's players saw a familiar face on the big screen. It was Stephone Anthony, who took some time to record some words of encouragement and advice for the players he left behind when he departed for the NFL. Anthony has plenty occupying him as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, but he took time to record a video of about four minutes on his cell phone.
I asked B.J. Goodson and Ben Boulware to share what resonated with them about Anthony's message.
Goodson
"It's real good to hear from any of the former players. Stephone's message was really good to hear, especially out of the 'backer group. We miss those personalities, and we have younger guys coming up. When Ben and I leave, they'll miss our personalities. And when we leave, somebody's got to step up. Somebody's got to step up all the time.
"Stephone told us to cherish those relationships that you build. All the things that Coach Swinney teaches us about relationships here, that's basically what Stephone repeated."
Boulware
"The main thing he was saying was just to make the most out of this opportunity, that it goes by really fast. And just enjoy it. Have fun. He said the NFL is a business and it's not near as fun or as much of a family as it is at Clemson.
"He called out some guys. He called out me. He called out B.J., D.J. (Reader), Jayron (Kearse) and told us to step up. I sent him a text and we talked for a little bit. So I appreciate him calling me out. I needed that."
-- Dorian O'Daniel said he's the reason Christian Wilkins is at Clemson.
O'Daniel was just joking, but in fact he was Wilkins' host on his official visit. And he did some serious working on the big fella that weekend.
"To be honest, I had a heart-to-heart with Christian," O'Daniel said. "I do feel like I had something to do with it. I feel like I was that voice on his shoulder."
When Wilkins was still in the decision-making process, a lot of people doubted he'd follow through on coming to Clemson. At the time it wasn't totally easy to envision a major prospect from Connecticut coming here. O'Daniel, though, sensed that Wilkins was a perfect fit at Clemson. And he sensed Wilkins felt the same thing.
"I just kind of had that gut feeling," O'Daniel said. "Just spending time with him, I knew he was a Clemson guy. Just great character. High spirits. Focused. Intelligent."
O'Daniel said Wilkins has been "killing it" in camp so far, to the surprise of no one who was around when Wilkins arrived for the summer and took part in voluntary workouts.
"I saw this man do a somersault and a backflip during the summer twice, like it was nothing. Talk about athletic," O'Daniel said of the 300-pounder.
"Like a legit backflip. Like, an off-his-feet type thing. Everyone was impressed -- also kind of scared."
-- Back to Anthony calling out Boulware, Reader, Goodson, Kearse and others to become the leaders this defense needs this season: You wonder if Brent Venables might have put Anthony up to that, given how much Venables has been harping on that topic for the past few weeks.
We've heard very good reviews on that count so far, by the way. The Tigers haven't yet gotten to the part of camp that feels like an unmerciful grind, so it's not time to make an ironclad evaluation. But at this point the reviews have been quite favorable on the veterans who are filling those big shoes.
Reader has been a different player physically and mentally. He's much leaner and meaner than we saw in the spring. And Goodson has become noticeably more vocal, leading both by example and by his words on the field.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other message boards or Web sites. Thank you.
Some interesting nuggets we've picked up over the past few days:
-- During a team meeting last week, Clemson's players saw a familiar face on the big screen. It was Stephone Anthony, who took some time to record some words of encouragement and advice for the players he left behind when he departed for the NFL. Anthony has plenty occupying him as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, but he took time to record a video of about four minutes on his cell phone.
I asked B.J. Goodson and Ben Boulware to share what resonated with them about Anthony's message.
Goodson
"It's real good to hear from any of the former players. Stephone's message was really good to hear, especially out of the 'backer group. We miss those personalities, and we have younger guys coming up. When Ben and I leave, they'll miss our personalities. And when we leave, somebody's got to step up. Somebody's got to step up all the time.
"Stephone told us to cherish those relationships that you build. All the things that Coach Swinney teaches us about relationships here, that's basically what Stephone repeated."
Boulware
"The main thing he was saying was just to make the most out of this opportunity, that it goes by really fast. And just enjoy it. Have fun. He said the NFL is a business and it's not near as fun or as much of a family as it is at Clemson.
"He called out some guys. He called out me. He called out B.J., D.J. (Reader), Jayron (Kearse) and told us to step up. I sent him a text and we talked for a little bit. So I appreciate him calling me out. I needed that."
-- Dorian O'Daniel said he's the reason Christian Wilkins is at Clemson.
O'Daniel was just joking, but in fact he was Wilkins' host on his official visit. And he did some serious working on the big fella that weekend.
"To be honest, I had a heart-to-heart with Christian," O'Daniel said. "I do feel like I had something to do with it. I feel like I was that voice on his shoulder."
When Wilkins was still in the decision-making process, a lot of people doubted he'd follow through on coming to Clemson. At the time it wasn't totally easy to envision a major prospect from Connecticut coming here. O'Daniel, though, sensed that Wilkins was a perfect fit at Clemson. And he sensed Wilkins felt the same thing.
"I just kind of had that gut feeling," O'Daniel said. "Just spending time with him, I knew he was a Clemson guy. Just great character. High spirits. Focused. Intelligent."
O'Daniel said Wilkins has been "killing it" in camp so far, to the surprise of no one who was around when Wilkins arrived for the summer and took part in voluntary workouts.
"I saw this man do a somersault and a backflip during the summer twice, like it was nothing. Talk about athletic," O'Daniel said of the 300-pounder.
"Like a legit backflip. Like, an off-his-feet type thing. Everyone was impressed -- also kind of scared."
-- Back to Anthony calling out Boulware, Reader, Goodson, Kearse and others to become the leaders this defense needs this season: You wonder if Brent Venables might have put Anthony up to that, given how much Venables has been harping on that topic for the past few weeks.
We've heard very good reviews on that count so far, by the way. The Tigers haven't yet gotten to the part of camp that feels like an unmerciful grind, so it's not time to make an ironclad evaluation. But at this point the reviews have been quite favorable on the veterans who are filling those big shoes.
Reader has been a different player physically and mentally. He's much leaner and meaner than we saw in the spring. And Goodson has become noticeably more vocal, leading both by example and by his words on the field.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other message boards or Web sites. Thank you.
