Clemson Safety RJ Mickens is going into his fifth year, making him one of the veterans for this Clemson defense and defensive back room. He’s coming off one of his best seasons, where he played in 11 games and recorded 42 tackles, four tackles for a loss (career high), three pass deflections (career high), and one fumble recovery (career high) for 15 yards.
At ACC Media Day this past Thursday in Charlotte, he was one of the player representatives for Clemson Football, alongside Quarterback Cade Klubnik, Linebacker Barrett Carter, and Running Back Phil Mafah.
When Mickens stepped up to the podium for Clemson, he was asked about three things: What the defense has done to become so stellar, Mickens’ growth in starting games, and why he came back to Clemson.
“Just the work we’ve been putting in. Me, Barrett, Tyler. We got a ton great of great leaders, and young leaders as well; Avieon Terrell, Shelton Lewis. Guys just stepping up and just grinding this whole offseason and this whole summer has been incredible to see. We just got to be consistent, that’s the main thing.”
RJ Mickens
“For me personally it’s been being consistent. Every single play could be that play that could win or lose the game. Especially being a safety you’ve got to have that mindset every single play. You cannot take a play off and I feel like I’ve really improved in that sense. In just maturing, and developing as a leader and as a man off the field.”
RJ Mickens
“Having the people in that building; Coach Swinney, Coach Conn, Coach Wes, Coach Riley on the offensive side. And then the guys in the locker room, a really special group of guys, just seeing the work and the commraderie. Just those long days that I was talking about just grinding early morning, late nights… I’ve just really got a lot of confidence in this bunch.”
RJ Mickens
This Clemson defense looks to be a very tight-knit group as both Carter and Mickens gave great examples through answering questions as to how that is and why that is.
“I can count on my brothers like Barrett Carter, Peter Woods, TJ, Khalil, Tyler, there’s just so many guys that are special and leaders and experienced vets on this defense,” Mickens said. “I don’t feel a ton of pressure at all because I know I got tons of playmakers all around me, I can count on those guys.”
Carter added to this by explaining in his own interview how close he and Mickens have been since meeting at Clemson, growing their games together.
“Me and RJ, we’ll go up to the facility, it’s pitch black outside and we’re hitting the field, doing drills, running, doing stuff like that. We like to call that Scary Hours.”
Barrett Carter
As I said before, Mickens is one of the most vital veterans to this defense, specifically the defensive back room. Clemson’s pass defense took a big step last season due to young guys like Shelton Lewis, Avieon Terrell, and Khalil Barnes, who stepped into their roles with the right mentality. Over the course of this offseason and even going back into last season, Mickens has had to step up and become a leader for those guys on and off the field, and he seems to be loving it, as he had nothing but positive words for the young defensive backs.
“Those guys have really done a lot, they don’t sit around and wait to be lead; Shelton Lewis, Avieon Terrell, Khalil Barnes… That’s really encouraging to see, those guys acting like it’s their fifth year… I’m really proud of those guys, just the step that they’ve taken from last year to now. That freshman class, it’s really special.”
RJ Mickens
Avieon Terrell, the brother of former standout Clemson defensive back AJ Terrell, had to step into a starting role as a true freshman last season and absolutely excelled while doing it. He finished the season with 19 total tackles, a one-handed interception, and four pass deflections. But Mickens’ favorite part about the young defensive back seems to be his mentality, preparation, and knowledge of the game.
“AV [Avieon] is a great leader, he came in with an alpha mentality, he’s not gonna sit around and wait to be led. He came in and started playing a ton last year as a true freshman. His preparation, even when he wasn’t starting, he was watching film and putting in work, just grinding knowing that his time will come and whenever his time came he was ready for it. Seeing the next step he’s taken… he’s really just excelled, his footwork is unbelievable, his knowledge of the defense for a corner is unbelievable. This guy knows the whole scheme, he knows the fronts, he knows the backers, he knows what everyone’s supposed to be doing so it’s really incredible.
RJ Mickens
