At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Clemson safety Isaiah Simmons arrived on campus last June ready-made physically. But having played in a basic defense at Olathe High School in Olathe, Kan., Simmons needed more time to adjust to the college game mentally, learn defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ complex schemes and refine his technique.

The former four-star prospect and first-team all-state performer on both sides of the ball in high school was one of the players on the redshirt bubble after all of Clemson’s preseason scrimmages were completed. He proved to be a tough decision for the staff, which ultimately opted to redshirt him with half of the 2016 signing class.

Simmons approached his redshirt year with a good mindset and focus on becoming a better overall player in preparation for the 2017 season. Looking back on his year, he is happy about how things panned out.

“I really am because in the long run, I maybe would have gotten like a 100 snaps max,” Simmons told The Clemson Insider last month, “so it just turns out that waiting out a year — even though it’s something that you may not want to do — is the best thing.”

Simmons and the Tigers’ other true freshmen recently completed the strength program’s annual “Power Hour” program led by strength and conditioning director Joey Batson.

Simmons said it helped him get stronger, and he also worked hard throughout the season to gain a firm mental grasp of the playbook.

“Me and Shaq Smith, we’ve kind of been in our playbooks when the guys have traveled for away games,” Simmons said, “so we can kind of stay ahead of the game as well.”

Clemson’s 15 allotted bowl practices leading up to the Fiesta Bowl versus Ohio State on New Year’s Eve allowed the team’s redshirt freshmen and walk-ons that spent all season on the scout team to get some action.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney designated the last 20 minutes or so of each practice to the aforementioned groups, who had the opportunity to scrimmage and get meaningful reps that they can carry over into the offseason and spring practice.

“At first it’s like a thing that nobody really wants to do, but at the end, it’s just a time to really get better and show the coaches how you’ve progressed throughout the season,” Simmons said of what Swinney calls the “JV” practices. “It’s really just helping you get ready for what’s coming up in the spring.”

Simmons said he paid special attention to improving his technique during the practices.

“The main thing I want to do is work on my technique because of course in high school, you don’t really have to use as much technique as you do on a level like this,” Simmons said. “Technique is what separates you from the other competition.”

Simmons spent time at free safety during the fall and postseason practices, and he figures to be in the mix for the starting role at that position next season following the departure of Jadar Johnson.

Simmons also expects to start working at the nickel position, and said he knows the dime position, as well.

“I may be working on more than one position, so I might be a guy that can maybe stay on the field more than others,” Simmons said. “But really we’re just going to see how everything plays out in the spring.”

Simmons — who had 92 tackles as a senior in 2015 as well as 29 receptions for 994 yards and 17 total touchdowns — feels he improved as a redshirt player.

Now, he’s excited to compete for an expanded role in the spring.

“I’ve been counting the days down, honestly,” Simmons said. “I can’t wait till spring to just see what I got and see how much I’ve gotten better.”