CLEMSON — It doesn’t take long to realize that Amare Adams is just different compared to most incoming freshmen.

Coaches gushed over Adams back in the spring, and over the opening week of his first fall camp, those glowing reviews continue to come in.

He’s been so good, in fact, that he’s been running with the second group in some of the rotations alongside Stephiylan Green, behind Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart. Considering some of the other players the Tigers have at defensive tackle, that’s pretty telling.

“Amare is just special,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. ” He is one of those guys that just shows up special. Special talent, special player, special motor, special leader. He’s smart. I mean, he is not normal.”

He is bigger, stronger, and quicker than most defensive linemen are when they arrive on campus. Most importantly, he appears ready to make significant contributions and at a high level. That puts him in some special company.

“He is one of those guys that creates problems for other players,” Swinney said. “You think that is normal, but it’s not. Sammy Watkins isn’t normal. C.J. Spiller isn’t normal. Blake Miller is not normal. Just shows up and starts day one as an offensive tackle. Christian Wilkins is not normal. Amare is in that group.”

Adams was a five-star coming out of high school, where he helped guide South Florence to a state title as a senior. He racked up 75 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, two passes deflected and one forced fumble, despite facing constant double teams, and sometimes even being triple-teamed.

Expectations are always high for those types of talents. Oftentimes, even unrealistic. Some players live up to them as freshmen, but many don’t.

Adams appears destined to join that group that has.

“He’s just not a normal freshman,” Swinney said. “He is just a really, really talented player.”