Clemson Football: Leaders will emerge during the summer

The Clemson football team is currently engulfed in summer workouts. Leaders will emerge as the Tigers continue to prepare for the upcoming season.

While everyone else is taking their summer trips down to the beach and the lake, Clemson football players are getting ready for the upcoming season.

Though the summer isn’t as taxing for the players as the regular season or preseason time, it’s certainly not a vacation. The Tigers have extended time off and opportunities to get away, but also spend a good amount of time with early morning workouts, attending summer classes and working with teammates to develop chemistry and improve as an overall football player- all without the guidance of the coaching staff.

Because the coaching staff isn’t as heavily involved- they are extremely limited in interaction as far as football is concerned- players are counted upon to step up.

Last year, the Tigers had several veterans in the locker room and weight room to lead the team. Guys like Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant, Kendall Joseph and others took control of the defense. Mitch Hyatt, Justin Falcinelli, Hunter Renfrow and Adam Choice were leaders on the offense.

Now, with all of those guys gone, the Clemson football program needs leadership to emerge.

There has been talks about certain players that have stepped into leadership roles, but the summer is when they will solidify themselves as a leader and gain respect from their fellow teammates.

Expect to see players like K’Von Wallace, Tanner Muse, AJ Terrell, Jamie Skalski, Isaiah Simmons, Nyles Pinckney, Jordan Williams and Justin Foster thrusted into leadership roles this season on the defense. Expect Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Gage Cervenka, John Simpson, Tremayne Anchrum and others to be those voices on the offense.

In the end, we’re going to see leaders emerge from the summer workouts and the festivities that happen with the Clemson football program during the “Transformation Phase” time period.