Earlier this week, Dabo Swinney talked about the difference he has seen in Clemson left tackle Jackson Carman this season. He says the 6-foot-6, 335-pound sophomore has matured in everything he is doing in the classroom, away from the football field and, of course, on the field, too.
“He is a really talented player and he has just gotten serious about it, too,” Clemson’s head coach said. “I think he wants to be the best in the country. I don’t think he just wants to be the best in this league. He just as an edge and drive to him that is very encouraging.”
It has not come easy for Carman. Of course, a lot of it was his own fault. He explained that it took him time to grow and mature. He said the culture at Clemson helped in his progress.
“There are a lot of different things coming from where I was in high school until now,” he said. “It was a big growth process not only football wise, but off the field as well. In different things such as accountability, showing up on time, being a good teammate, and being the best I can be on and off the field.
“Being here as helped mold me and continues to mold me into the person I want to be one day.”
Carman and Swinney contributed to senior linemen Sean Pollard, Gage Cervenka, John Simson and Tremayne Anchrum for pushing him and getting the best out of him.
“They help a ton,” Carman said. “Watching people like Mitch (Hyatt), who Dabo likes to call the model of consistency, being able to watch him and immolate what he does. Watching people like Tremayne be one of the best vocal leaders on our team this year. Just being around those guys and learning from them.”
The left tackle admits he had to learn talent alone would not work at Clemson. Swinney said Carman’s talent makes him a good offensive tackle, but by demanding more from himself and working harder, he is seeing how much better he has become and how high his ceiling really is.
“He just has an edge and drive to him that is very encouraging for a young player,” Swinney said. “He is just in his first year starting. I think he has just got serious about life, accountability and discipline.”
Carman has found his way and he had found a way to stand out, but not just because he is the biggest man on the field or in the classroom.
“At this level, everyone is good. Everyone has talent. Everyone has potential,” he said. “You have to find what is going to separate you from everyone else, so if you’re are willing to work harder than everyone else in the room, you’ll end up being the best in the room.
“If you sit back and think that your talent is going to carry you, it’s only going to take you so far.”
So far it is taking him to heights on the field and off.
“The more talent you have, the better you can be. Why would you not want to maximize what you can be? College is an eye-opening experience for that,” Carman said.
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