It was a closed practice today with no media availability, but after practice the media did get some time with Marcus Tate and Ruke Orhorhoro.
Marcus Tate was asked about his injury from last season that held him out of the spring. “I tore my MCL, my MPFL, because my kneecap fell out and went back in and I tore a part of my Patellar”. The way that Tate responded after this injury really speaks a lot about not only the player that he is, but also his determination. Tate went on to say “It was pretty intense, but the way I look at it is that it was just something that I would have to deal with. If I had a bad attitude about it then I wouldn’t have gotten back the way that I did, so I attacked it every day and I was aggressive because I feel like this was a good shot for me to work on myself and my body and I would say my focus has been better than it was the last two years because of the injury”.
“I really love football and being injured let me find my love for the game again and never take it for granted” – Marcus Tate
Marcus Tate was asked about the biggest difference between playing in the offense this year under Garrett Riley, and last year’s offense. “I would say the biggest difference is, the tempo and this offense is much more creative. We are focusing on getting the ball to our playmakers in space and that makes it easier on the offensive line because we are playing against much lighter boxes”. “For me, the tempo is faster and we are able to play more aggressive and more free in this offense.” Marcus also added that they have more say in what they are doing in pass protection this year. Tate was asked about when he was cleared and he said that if the spring game was a real game then he thinks he would have been able to go, but he was 100% in May. Says that one of the blessings of his injury was getting other guys more reps to build quality depth.
Clemson had the power rangers in town over the summer working to get ready for the NFL season, and Marcus said that it was really cool to be around all those guys and learn more from them. Said that he really watched Christian Wilkins and how he attacked his workouts and said that it was good to see because that is what he will have to do to make it to the next level.
When asked about if it was a possibility if he could move out to left tackle Tate had this to say, “I’m just focused on playing where they put me right now. I worked at both this off season because there is an opportunity that might come up but right now I’m focusing on where they put me. If it’s left guard I’m gonna give it my best shot and if it is left tackle I will be the best left tackle I can be”.
Marcus Tate also said that “we are a lot more conditioned this year, we are kicking butt when we are moving fast. We are pushing the tempo even more this year, especially the way Cade pushes it because he is a little more high tempo… It is crazy”
Ruke came out and started things off with some comedy. He was asked if him and Tyler Davis pretty much do everything together, he said “yeah we pretty much do everything together, I wish we lived together but he got a girlfriend and turned his back on me so she is apart of the family now too”
Ruke was also asked about the announcement of him and Tyler coming back and if it was always that they were both going to do the same thing. “I knew I was coming back way before, but I wanted him (Tyler Davis) to say it so I would ask him, and he said to ask me and we just kept it going”
“Tyler called me and asked if I wanted to come back and I just had the biggest smile on my face. Ever since then I knew that I was coming back” – Ruke Orhorhoro
There was a question that was asked that put a big smile on Ruke”s face when someone asked if Clemson is becoming DLU. His reply was perfect “becoming? I think we have been DLU”
We all know about the starters on this defensive line like Ruke, TD, XT and Justin Mascoll. Ruke touched on the freshman group a little bit and said that all of them surprised him a little bit with their work ethic and how advanced they are. With their talent and a coach like Coach Eason pushing them, they could all leave after 3 years. He did go on to add that Peter Woods is bench pressing 475lbs as an 18 year old”
When asked about his expectations about this year and year two under Wes Goodwin, Ruke was very matter of fact with his answer, “Best in the country, that is the expectation.”
