CLEMSON – One year ago, defensive end London Merritt’s physical conditions looked very different than they do today.

For starters, the Atlanta, Ga., native was participating in his first college fall camp in Boulder, Colo,, last summer, a town known for its mild climate in the summer and early fall months. 

At the time, he was playing for head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, nearly a 1,500 mile trek from his hometown and family, who are still located in the Peach State. 

Additionally, Merritt played the majority of his games against the members of the western-heavy Big 12 conference, far away from many of the schools that recruited the former four-star prospect.

Though many college freshmen experience a significant life change, Merritt’s circumstances were especially far from familiar in his first year playing college football.

Now, one year later, with a freshman All-American season under his belt, the rising sophomore is entering his second year of collegiate play with some more dramatic changes. 

This offseason, Merritt traded Mountain Time for Eastern Time, Coach “Prime” for Coach Dabo Swinney, and the Buffaloes for the Tigers. He also welcomed back the south’s sweltering summer heat when he announced his commitment to Clemson out of the transfer portal back in January.

“I’m enjoying my time here, working here and I’m just focused on what we got coming up this season,” Merritt said.

When the edge rusher arrived at Clemson, his physical conditions changed quickly, moving back into one of the hottest regions of the country and swapping Rocky Mountain and Blue Ridge foothills. But Merritt quickly learned that his physical conditioning also needed to change if he wanted to compete for playing time this season.

Two mentors, defensive ends coach Chris Rumph, and Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Dennis Love championed Merritt’s transformation upon his arrival in Clemson.

“I’m just very appreciative for Coach Rumph taking me in and things like that,” Merritt said. “I started out a little rough, but I picked it up and then I had the summer workouts. You know, worked really hard with the staff, thanks to (Love). I couldn’t tell you how hard he worked us, it was bad. It was hard, but  very appreciative. I got my feet under me, now I’m just ready to work.”

As a freshman at Colorado, Merritt appeared in 12 games and started in one contest. He accrued 25 tackles, including eight for loss – the fourth-most among power conference freshmen. He also used his 6-foot-3, 255-pound frame to sack TCU’s quarterback early in the season.

Now, Clemson veteran defensive end Jahiem Lawson believes Merritt can add onto his rookie success in his first year with the Tigers.

“London, he can do it all,” Lawson said. “I’m happy for him. He’s a young kid and he’s got some time. So, like him coming (to Clemson), I think he’s going to be great for us and just great for our room.”

Defensive coordinator Tom Allen and the Tigers, who welcomed in nine other defensive transfers this offseason, could greatly benefit off of Merritt’s athleticism, especially after losing starting edge rusher T.J. Parker in the second round of the NFL Draft this spring. 

While the Clemson defense still has some questions entering year two under Tom Allen, including defensive end depth, Merritt believes his group is poised to surprise some preseason critics.

“People are going to make us look like the underdogs, but I feel like we’re going to definitely surprise a lot of people and come out strong,” he said.

“We just got dogs everywhere on the field,” Merritt added. “It’s hard to explain, but I just know. I just feel the energy.”

Merritt and the Tigers will get their first chance to show off that energy, and the changes they have made, on Sept. 5, when Clemson heads to LSU to open its season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.