Clelin Ferrell is more than ready to get back on the football field.
\nFirst, he\u2019s got to graduate from Benedictine College Preparatory in Richmond, Virginia on Friday. Then, in three weeks, he\u2019ll start class at Clemson.
\n\u201cHealth-wise, I\u2019m doing very well,\u201d Ferrell said, during a recent interview with TheClemsonInsider.
\nThe four-star defensive end tore his ACL during a scrimmage before the start of his senior season.
\n\u201cI\u2019m nine months out of surgery, June 5 makes nine months, actually. I\u2019ve been doing all my football activities for the past three months since I got cleared to do all my activities. I\u2019ve been doing all my things,\u201d he said. \u201cMy knee feels fine. I\u2019m feeling good, athletically. Just overall confidence in myself, mentally, I\u2019m doing good, too. I\u2019m doing pretty well.\u201d
\nThe second session of Clemson summer school starts on June 24.
\n\u201cMy first year, I want to come in and work, show my teammates and coaches that I\u2019m a hard-worker and just show them I\u2019m about the team,\u201d Ferrell said. \u201cI don\u2019t want them to see me as some guy that thinks everything should be given to me. I want them to know I\u2019m going to work for everything that I want and I\u2019m given.\u201d
\nThe Under Armour All-American wants to make a good first-impression on his new teammates.
\n\u201cI want them to know I\u2019m all about the team and just winning every game and doing all the things that we should do as a team,\u201d Ferrell said. \u201cAs a freshman, I don\u2019t want them to think I\u2019m a slacker or something like that.
\n\u201cI\u2019m going to come in and compete with all the other guys and just compete like I\u2019ve been there. I\u2019m not going to hold anything back. I just want to come in and show that I\u2019m focused and will help the team as much as I can.\u201d
\nWith the departures of Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford and Tavaris Barnes to the NFL and Ebenezer Ogundeko\u2019s boot from the team, the competition for playing time at defensive end is relatively wide-open.
\nBut Ferrell won\u2019t arrive with any preconceived notion about his playing time in 2015.
\n\u201cI just want to show that I can come in and be ready to compete for that playing time, because I don\u2019t want it to be given to me,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to come in and compete, show that I\u2019ve earned that right to play early as a freshman.\u201d
\nDefensive ends coach Marion Hobby told Ferrell that he\u2019s got an opportunity to be a versatile piece for the Clemson defense.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll definitely have my hand in the ground most of the time, because that\u2019s my natural spot,\u201d Ferrell said. \u201cBut they definitely want to see me playing linebacker some, playing in a 3-4 scheme sometimes, coverage, dropping into the flats and things like that. I\u2019ll have that type of role.\u201d<\/p>\n