Clemson defensive end Ricky Sapp is among those skeptical that a player can regain their full ability within months of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
But seeing is believing, Sapp counters.
From what Sapp and team trainers see, he is at about 95 percent and should be completely recovered by the Tigers' Sept. 5 season opener against Middle Tennessee.
"I think it's all a mind thing,"
Sapp said Sunday at ACC Media Days at the Grandover Resort.
"Right now, I think I'm back where I was a year ago in terms of explosiveness."
Sapp does not have a medical explanation, but he doesn't have to play doctor on Saturday's just provide an imposing pass-rush. And teammates and coaches alike say Sapp appears physically ready to step into the lineup.
Sapp's only worry should be learning the defensive scheme implemented by new coordinator Kevin Steele.
The prospect of doing so when practice opens Aug. 4 has Sapp chomping at the bit especially following an injury-plagued junior season.
"This defense is going to showcase what I can do as a linebacker,"
Sapp said. "I'm hoping this year is my big finale. I guess we'll find out."
As the "bandit"
end in former coordinator Vic Koenning's scheme, Sapp was an edge-rusher who occasionally provided zone pass coverage in the flat.
In contrast, Steele's scheme will require Sapp to sometimes set up pre-snap as a linebacker a hybrid position of value to teams that use 3-4 defenses in the NFL, and the reason pro scouts expect Sapp to be an early pick in next year's draft.
Their wait could have gone a year longer had Sapp and redshirted this year in the aftermath of his knee injury against Virginia in November.
Sapp said he briefly mulled the idea after making the wrong decision to return earlier in the season.
After suffering a deep knee bruise early in the opener against Alabama, Sapp said he was "hard-headed"
and returned the next game instead of sitting out three contests to recover.
Consequently, he was hindered by pain throughout the season and tallied two sacks until injuring his ACL in the seasons 10th game. Against Virginia, he suffered the tear after sitting out nearly two quarters when his knee buckled in the first quarter.
"I was really down and out for a long time, and I actually thought about sitting out a year and coming back 100 percent,"
Sapp said. "But I rehabbed pretty hard, and things went so well I felt there was no need to redshirt."
Sapp said he is a month ahead of his rehabilitation schedule thanks in part to the advice of former Clemson linebacker Anthony Waters, who tore his ACL in the first game of his senior year in 2006.
Waters ran with Sapp during the offseason, and Sapp took to heart the recommendation of doing additional one-legged exercises. Sapp has increased his weight 10 pounds to 250.
Sapp has laid down a sack challenge to his cousin and counterpart end, sophomore DaQuan Bowers.
Sapp said he and Bowers have both set their mark at 10 sacks each.
"I will not let him beat me in sacks,"
Sapp said. "That won't happen."
"We both want 10 apiece. But we will not be equal."
