Could we see Clemson football take to the practice field sooner rather than later?
The Clemson football team enters the 2020 season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship and the Tigers- just like everyone else from around the country- are ready to get back on campus and begin preparing for the upcoming season.
Though it hasn’t been officially announced when Clemson football players can return to campus, the NCAA Division 1 Council voted to allow football, basketball and women’s basketball players to return to campus as early as June as long as activities follow the regulations of federal, state and local guidelines.
At this point, the vote was for voluntary workouts that would typically be being conducted right now.
The SEC Board of Presidents approved allowing players of all sports to return to campus for voluntary workouts beginning June 8.
In addition to the voluntary workout news, there is another provision that the NCAA is considering that could affect Clemson football.
Could we see a form of OTAs for Clemson football?
Sports Illustrated reported that an NCAA Committee is exploring allowing colleges to have a two-week period that would resemble the NFL’s OTA-style practices.
For those of you not familiar, an OTA-style practice is a lighter load and doesn’t involve full contact. During those practices, coaches focus more on installing their schemes and working with players in a bit of a lighter capacity, rather than the grueling practices that players go through in fall camp.
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney told the media earlier this spring that he would be in favor of having an OTA-style practice period as a way to make up for lost time in spring practice.
The NCAA is going to have to do something to make up for that time coaches across the country lost by not having full spring practices. Programs use that time to introduce the play-book and they didn’t get to do that.
OTAs would allow coaches an opportunity to meet with their players on-the-field and slowly get the team back in football shape and prepare for the upcoming season without adding an extra load on the student-athlete.