Clemson safety Jadar Johnson has some advice for young people out there that might be like him.

“Don’t worry about what someone is thinking, just work on you because you know when you’re at your best, and you know when you’re ready to go out there and play. So as long as you do that things will be fine,” he said.

Johnson wished he would have learned that earlier in his career at Clemson. However, he says, he got a little short minded and did not always see the whole picture. He said lost his confidence and he started doubting himself.

That is not the case anymore. Instead, the Tigers’ strong safety is a First-Team All-ACC player and leads the team with five interceptions as No. 2 Clemson gets set to play third-ranked Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Glendale, Arizona.

“I’m the best player and that’s how everyone should come in thinking, having their confidence that they’re the best player,” the senior said.

Johnson said his confidence started to come back once he took his school work serious and put his academics above football.

“But reality will set in once in a while so you know it’s really all about academics,” he said. “You have to put academics first. As long as you put academics first things will go right. But for the young guys who are (reading) this and want to know what’s the best thing to do in a transition like this … work on yourself, work on your craft, do not look at what everyone else is thinking because that’s really what it was for me.

“I came in as a freshman and I was like man, ‘I know people back home are like, ‘What’s going on with Jadar? Why’s he not playing?’ And you know that kind of set me back a little more. I feel like if I would’ve focused on myself a little more I would’ve came into my light a little faster. So once I started working on myself, things just came into play.”