Leadership and Accountability Among Teammates for a More Mature Tigers’ Squad this Season
There is no denying that the 2023 incarnation of the Clemson Tigers’ football team is talented. Despite what many in the national media would have you believe; this Clemson team is as loaded as any other squad in the country. According to wide receiver Adam Randall and linebacker Wade Woodaz, that talent and depth on both sides of the ball will be a catalyst for a Tigers’ team looking to earn their way back to the College Football Play-off for the first time in three years.
Both players also point to an unparalleled chemistry and players holding one another accountable to the Clemson standard as reasons why this team can be among the nation’s best. Both players spoke to the media following practice on Tuesday, August 22.
Randall noted that redshirt freshman wide receiver Cole Turner in particular, has pushed him to elevate his game.
“Cole going out there and being the beast that he is makes me want to elevate my game every day,” he said. “Us going out there, and I wouldn’t say that it’s competition, but a friendship and wanting to make each other better. Just continue to fight for each other and fight for the team.”
Adam Randall
Woodaz has taken on more of a leadership role among the linebacking unit as the Tigers move deeper into fall practice, especially with a minor injury keeping preseason All-American Jeremiah Trotter out for a bit. Woodaz says that Trotter and Barrett Carter have helped him immensely as he becomes more versatile on defense.
“Barrett helped me a lot, and Trot (Trotter) was there too through everything, so if it was at MIKE, I could ask him questions when I’m off the field. I already know SAM and WILL pretty good so when I’m at free safety, running MIKE just makes everything click more because I know where everything else can fit.”
Following the end of fall camp last week, and with fall practice now in full swing, Woodaz added that it was a productive camp in which Clemson was able to accomplish many of their goals and build needed depth prior to their first game at Duke on Labor Day Monday.
“A lot of the young guys have gotten a lot better,” he added. “Building depth is the key to going far and seeing flashes of young guys is really promising. We can put them in the game and standard doesn’t change. They can go make plays.”
Randall, meanwhile, has been rooming with quarterback Cade Klubnik. Being with his signal caller on and off the field, he says, has helped develop a strong chemistry between the two that he expects to carry over onto the field.
“I just feel like me and Cade are kind of the same way,” he said. “It’s been like that ever since we got in here (to Clemson). Last year we were on second team a lot and he threw me a lot of passes, especially in the spring. I feel like him being my roommate has been one of my best decisions ever since I got to college. He brings me up every single day and, also, holds me accountable at the same time. So, yea, I feel like every day we come out here and are on the same wavelength.”
With some early attrition at linebacker, Woodaz does not see that as a concern as much as those on the outside of the program have stated. In fact, he expressed confidence in the Tigers’ young linebackers behind Trotter, Carter, and himself to get the job done when they are called upon. That internal confidence has been another way the Tigers have built themselves up as the season opener fast approaches.
“We’re building depth and I’m really confident in everybody in the (linebacker room),” Woodaz said. “In our young guys especially, because we know what Barrett and Trotter can do and I’m confident in everyone else in the room to step up and play when it’s needed.”
Wade Woodaz
The 2023 Tigers are hard-nosed, close-knit, mature, and according to Randall, they will be fast.
“Fast, we have a lot of really fast guys,” he said when asked about the Tigers’ identity on offense. “This summer we did a lot of speed work, and Coach Swinney has said several times this is one of the fastest teams he’s had in the last couple of years. Us going out there, playing fast and running by people, being explosive, that’s all you can ask for.”
