This year is an important spring for Clemson’s Tremayne Anchrum as he attempts to win the job at right tackle on the offensive line, a position he shared with Sean Pollard last year.
Anchrum has also spent part of the spring working at left tackle as Mitch Hyatt’s backup.
On Monday, the media caught up with the 6-foot-2, 290-pound offensive tackle after practice inside the Poe Indoor Practice facility in Clemson.
Question: Talk about being a leader on the offensive line with new guys coming in and new guys coming up behind you. What you are expecting out of yourself this year.
Anchrum: Well, you know the season was a success. We had a lot of milestones and set a lot of records. We could’ve gotten more but that’s a part of the process that we have embraced. The offensive line has a lot coming back and we are going to be the best we have ever been. Respects to the older generations, but I think we a lot of depth, a lot of talent and ability in the offensive linemen. Coming up we expect high expectations and high standards. We’ve got to move the ball, we’ve got to run it and we’ve got to protect the quarterback, really as an anchor to this offense. The offense goes as far as the offensive line goes. We’ve got Jackson (Carman) coming in, he is a great addition. Matt Bockhorst, Seth Pinner, Blake Vinson, and Chandler Reeves are all coming up as young guys. They have really started to step up and bloom and get into their peak, so I am really excited to see what is coming forth. For me, I am really expecting to have my best season.
Question: Where are you working primarily right now?
Anchrum: Right tackle, but I also back up left.
Question: Last year you and Sean split a lot of the time, how difficult was it rotating in and out and not knowing when you were going in?
Anchrum: It wasn’t that difficult, competition really brings the best out. You had to be on your A game. If I had an 89 and he had an 89.5, it was like “hey man, you’ve got to edge it to get the better grade.” It made me better. It made me realize that I can’t waste anything … a practice rep, a walk-through rep, a weight room rep, everything counts. It was difficult switching from left to right coming in mid-game, but I like the challenge to be versatile.
Question: What do you want to improve on during spring practice and the off-season?
Anchrum: Consistency. Being my best on every rep and not letting one lazy rep get me or one tired day get me, just being consistent. Being a leader, setting the example for the younger guys behind me, and just being what I need to be for the team.
Question: What lessons can you take away from last season, being your first season you got a ton of playing time?
Anchrum: Understanding the game, understanding who you are playing and game-time situations. Really understanding that we are all players and we are good enough to be on this field and we’ve worked enough and bloomed enough … so, it’s time to put it forth and work.
Question: You guys are a veteran group, but there are a lot of young redshirt freshman that are beginning to step in. Do they inject excitement and bring energy in?
Anchrum: Yes, it is exciting to see the young guys get after it. They spent all last year working versus the veteran team. To see them coming and competing against these guys for actual live reps is pretty exciting. The future has a lot to bring.
Question: What have you seen out of Jackson so far, in these first couple of practices?
Anchrum: He gets after it. He loves physicality. He’s not afraid to get out there and take some risks. Even though he has a long way to go and is not as sound as he wants to be, he still has a lot of upside and a lot of ability.
Question: The offensive line is known to have some pretty big guys on it, is he one of the bigger ones?
Anchrum: He is pretty big. He is the offensive equivalent to Dexter Lawrence, so we should see some good battles in the fall with those two.
Question: How does he fit in this offensive line group?
Anchrum: He is different, and that is good to be an offensive lineman and be different. It is a bland position, people don’t recognize us. So, the more you stand out, the more you have something different to bring to the table. He’s not like anyone else on the offensive line and that is why we like him so much.