CLEMSON – Clemson football’s roster is littered with veteran talent, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receiver Antonio Williams, and on defense, defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker.
Parker, a junior defensive end, comes into the season after a sophomore campaign in which he notched 64 tackles, including 19.5 for loss, 11 sacks, and a school record six forced fumbles.
According to defensive ends coordinator Chris Rumph, the secret to Parker’s success and future development is his ability to stay vigilant and avoid complacency.
“(He’s) never satisfied,” Rumph told reporters at Clemson’s Media Outing Wednesday at the Allen Reeves Football Complex. “Always trying to find that extra edge, whether it’s, ‘do I think I should do extra sets in the weight room?’
‘Should I run extra sprints?’ ‘ ‘What do I need to study?’ ‘How can I get better?’ Not being satisfied.”
Though Rumph believes that Parker has a “God-given” ability that was on full display last season, he still believes that growth is necessary for last year’s All-ACC selection to reach his potential.
“He has a lot of work to do,” he said. “He has to continue to not only learn his position, but he has to challenge himself to learn the whole entire defense to know how everything fits, the linebackers, and understand what the secondary is fitting, why they’re saying some of the things that they’re saying. Hopefully bringing that entire puzzle together so he can actually see the entire picture and then he’ll know why, we’re asking him to be here, to be there.”
This season, Parker is joined by fellow defensive end Will Heldt, a junior transfer from Purdue. As a Boilermaker last season, Heldt amassed 56 tackles, including 10 for loss, five sacks, and a touchdown on a forced fumble.
As a duo, Parker and Heldt make up six years of college football experience and too many awards to count on one hand. Rumph, now Heldt’s position coach at Clemson, believes the Carmel, Ind., native breeds competition in practice.
“You get a guy like TJ, Will, those guys are pushing each other and they’re competing,” the 25-year veteran coach said. “All of them are competing, but they’re trying to find that extra edge. What can I do to just give me that little bit more?”
Heldt, Parker, and the rest of Clemson’s team have their next opportunity to push each other on July 31, when the Tigers will begin their annual fall practice. One month later, Clemson fans can watch the fruits of in-practice competition when the Tigers open their season on Aug. 30, at Memorial Stadium against LSU.