When Clelin Ferrell got to Clemson, he could bench press 225 pounds four times.

At the Orange Bowl, the former four-star recruit told TheClemsonInsider he’s up to 16 reps, thanks to some quality time during the power hour sessions with the other redshirt players.

“It’s been good. It’s been a big experience, a chance for me to grow up and mature another year,” Ferrell said of the redshirt experience. “I’m just really happy with what’s been going on here. The culture here has changed. We’ve been winning a lot. It’s been great. I’m just happy to be here.

“Any other redshirt guy will tell you, I’m just happy to be here…school’s been going well, too. I feel like, at practice, I’m getting better every day.”

Ferrell was almost a year removed from ACL surgery when preseason camp began. He suffered the injury during a scrimmage, before the start of his senior year at Benedictine High School in Richmond, Va.

“My knee has responded really well. I was a little iffy with it going into camp, but I feel like, right now, it’s feeling really, really good,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get to take my brace off in spring practice. It’s doing really well.”

The chase for spots on the two-deep will be wide-open with Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd on to the NFL.

“Those guys, those are like my big brothers. Shaq and Dodd, those are two great guys you get to watch,” Ferrell said. “Two different types of players. Those guys have two different paths and journeys to where they are now.

“A guy like Dodd, very, very hard-worker. I love to watch him work. He’s a technician. I love watching Dodd work. Shaq is just a freak. He’s a guy that loves to play the game, the way he plays on the field, the passion that he plays with.

“I love those guys. They help us a lot, on and off the field. They’re not just big brothers in the football facility. We hang-out with them on and off the field, too, so I love those guys.”

The year off has him feeling confident. He’s hungry, too. The guy hasn’t played in a real football game since his junior year at Benedictine.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better than I was. I feel like the knee injury in high school set me back some,” Ferrell said. “That’s nothing to be down on. Injuries are part of the game.

“I’m going to be a good player. I feel like, my potential — I definitely haven’t reached my potential, so I feel like I’m getting better every day.”

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.