After undergoing a lot of adversity the last couple of seasons, peak performance might describe Clemson wide receiver Charone Peake’s mentality going into the 2015 football season.

Peake suffered a torn ACL injury during the 2013 season that put him out for the year and allowed him a medical redshirt. After surgery and rehab, he suffered a minor knee injury going into the 2014 season that set him back once again.

“After surgery is probably when you hit your lowest moment,” the Clemson wide receiver said. “Then once you start making progress and feel yourself getting better that’s when your mentally gets stronger, and you feel like you can really play again and be the person you were before.”

Now that he has overcome these obstacles, Peake is now healthy and performing at optimal levels.

“I’m definitely healthy now, I have been healthy for a long time and I’ll just take advantage of my opportunities” Peake said.

Peake’s recent performance during last week’s win over Appalachian State had him filling the shoes of wide receiver Mike Williams, who suffered a neck injury against Wofford. Peake proved he was a true threat on the outside, catching four passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

With Williams being out, Peake’s role on the field has changed but this does not seem to be an issue to the Clemson vet.

“It’s amazing talent we lost and I guess in the position I was in, I’m going to have to switch over a little bit and increase my role, but I think I’ll be fine,” the senior said. “I know the offense pretty well. I have played all three positions since I have been here. It’s nothing new to me” Peake said.

Peake started the game off slow but was able to gain momentum during the second quarter, catching a 24-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson and later a 59-yard bomb.

After spotting Peake slipping past the secondary, Watson was able to throw the football more than 60 yards in the air towards Peake, which gracefully landed into his hands.

“That was a long throw. That’s a long pass right there,” Peake said. “I didn’t even know he had thrown it my way, or that he could even reach me, until I looked up and saw it coming down.”

His recent performances have not seemed to surprise the coaches and teammates though.

“It was good for Charone, but it was not a surprise for us coaches,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Jeff Scott said. “We have seen it through spring and fall camp. It was really a matter of Charone getting those opportunities and then capitalizing on them, and he did.”

Watson isn’t surprised at all by Peake’s performance.

“He did a great job. The guy has been around. He is a vet,” the Clemson quarterback said.