Clemson’s C.J. Spiller (28), who announced Thursday that he will return for his senior season with the Tigers, will enter the 2009 season with 4,908 all-purpose yards, third among active Division I players. His 8.57 yards per play will rank first among active Division I players.
CLEMSON — As he walked with reporters on the way to speak with all the media following C.J. Spiller’s announcement Thursday to stay at Clemson instead of declaring himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft, head coach Dabo Swinney could not help but smile.
“It feels like Christmas,”
the Clemson coach said.
Then what a Christmas it was. What better present for a football coach than the commitment from the top running back in the country to stay in school and play for him one more year? Spiller’s return to the Clemson offense will do wonders for what the Tigers hope to accomplish on the gridiron next year.
Misused at times over the last three seasons under former head coach Tommy Bowden and former offense coordinator Rob Spence, Swinney and new offensive coordinator Billy Napier proved to the masses what a weapon the 5-foot-11, 190-pound back can be if given the opportunity.
Spiller’s numbers dramatically increased once Swinney took over the program on Oct. 13. After starting the season slow, Spiller finished the year with 629 yards rushing and 436 yards receiving, giving him 1,065 yards from scrimmage.
He was second in the ACC in kickoff returns and second in punt returns in addition to his No. 1 ranking in all-purpose yardage. He was named an honorable mention All-American all-purpose player by Si.com and Pro Football Weekly.
“Let the C.J. for Heisman campaign begin. Let’s kick that off”
Swinney said. “We have never had a running back rush for 1,000 yards and catch 500, but we have one now.”
But Spiller’s return to Clemson is bigger than rushing yards and receiving yards, and maybe even touchdowns. By shunning the NFL and the millions of dollars he would have received as the possible first-round projection the NFL advisory board said he would be, he proved to his teammates and coaches how much he loves Clemson and them as well.
“He really loves this program,”
wide receiver Jacoby Ford said. “How many people turn down a first-round grade?”
Not many.
The only Clemson player before Spiller to do so was defensive end Gaines Adams, who decided to return to school for the 2006 season, his senior year, after receiving a similar grade by the NFL advisory committee.
Adams decision turned out to be a good move. He had a great year the following season. Besides setting the Tigers’ sack record for a season and a career, he was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American selection before being drafted No. 4 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2007 NFL Draft. He ultimately signed a lucrative contract, including an $18 million signing bonus.
“There is a business side to it, and you have to look at that,”
Swinney said. “His grade was similar to what Gaines’ was, and we all no how that worked out... No one can guarantee what will happen next year, but if everything works out, (Spiller) should be a top 10 pick.”
But there are a few guarantees with Spiller coming back to school. He will help the Tigers’ offense dramatically, and more importantly, he will get an education too. He needs just 13 classes to graduate, and he should be able to accomplish that feat by December.
“Let’s not discount the fact that he is going to get a college education,”
Swinney said.
And let’s not discount anything when it comes to Spiller.
