Clemson upperclassmen praise young stars at ACC media days
The offseason hype about Clemson's young athletes has been building for months now. At ACC Media Days, Clemson upperclassmen praised up-and-coming Tigers, including Sammy Brown, Avieon Terrell, Shelton Lewis, and David Eziomume.
On the main podium, Barrett Carter raved about five-star freshman Sammy Brown and his standout physical attributes.
"He looks the part already," Carter said. "He's probably stronger than all of us already, and he's wired differently, to say the least. He's come in hungry and driven with no ego at all. He's tried to pick my brain as much as possible to learn the playbook and the ins and outs of being successful at Clemson."
Carter joked that he takes credit for Brown's commitment because he hosted him during an official visit last year.
Workhorse running back Phil Mafah noted that four-star freshman David Eziomume has made a positive impression since joining the program.
"David is a worker," Mafah told clemsonsportstalk.com. "He's going to be a great running back at Clemson; I can already see it. He's wanted to pick my brain at anything he can, and I love that about him."
From 2023 freshman All-American Khalil Barnes to fellow Peach State standouts Avieon Terrell and Shelton Lewis, the Tigers will rely on sophomores in the defensive backfield this fall.
"They don't sit around and wait to be led," said Clemson graduate safety RJ Mickens of the trio. "They're acting like it's their last year, and that's encouraging to see. I'm proud of those guys. The step that they've taken from last year to now... that group is really special."
Clemson sophomore Avieon Terrell earned a starting role last season and could become one of the top cornerbacks in the ACC by the end of the year.
"He came in with an alpha mentality," Mickens said. "He's not going to sit around and wait for his turn. He’s taken the next step. His footwork and knowledge of the defense is unbelievable, and this guy knows the whole scheme."
Georgia native Shelton Lewis flashed next-level skills as a freshman and corralled interceptions against Georgia Tech and Kentucky toward the end of last season.
"He has a lot of potential," Mickens said. "He's really fast, and he plays tons of positions on the defense. Believe it or not, he can play corner, nickel, and safety. He's quick, fast, gritty, tough, physical, and smart. I'm really proud of him, and he's taken a big step this offseason."
After losing six players (including five defenders) in the 2024 NFL Draft, Clemson needs young stars to thrive in critical roles this fall. The program is counting on underclassmen like Brown, Eziomume, Barnes, Terrell, and Lewis to help Clemson claim a spot in the newly expanded College Football Playoff.
