Tag: Adam Randall

Adam Randall details ACL rehab, anticipation for freshman season

Recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring, Adam Randall expects to return even stronger and can’t wait to play in Death Valley.

Coming off a torn ACL suffered in the spring, freshman wide receiver Adam Randall expects to return even stronger than when he initially arrived at Clemson.

Speaking at a Dear Old Clemson event on Sunday, Randall recounted his initial reaction when he received the diagnosis and alluded to a pair of former Tigers he’s turning to that also suffered torn ACLs in college.

“Probably my first thought was that it was devastating,” Randall said. “As a competitor and an athlete, you want to be out with those guys and just competing. Having that taken away from you for a certain amount of time really makes you appreciate it a lot more.”

“When I heard it, I knew it was a very serious injury, but from the past, being able to hear guys like Amari Rodgers and Deshaun Watson being able to recover from it and do as well as they are now, it gave me a lot of hope. I knew it wasn’t career-ending or career-threatening. You heard ACL 10 years ago, and that would be about a year (to return). You hear ACL now; with recovery and technology, you can get back faster and quicker and come back even stronger.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Randall was one of the Tigers’ standouts during the spring, drawing comparisons to Beaux Collins, Justyn Ross and Sammy Watkins.

While head coach Dabo Swinney and the staff haven’t put a timetable on his return, Randall is excited to take the field in Death Valley for the first time.

“Just being able to run down that hill in front of 80,000 fans, that’s something I’ve dreamed about doing since I was a little boy.”

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Swinney’s latest update on Randall an encouraging one

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had an encouraging update this week on the status of his injured freshman receiver, though he’s making no guarantees as to when Adam Randall will return to action. It’s been just a few months since Randall had surgery to …

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had an encouraging update this week on the status of his injured freshman receiver, though he’s making no guarantees as to when Adam Randall will return to action.

It’s been just a few months since Randall had surgery to repair his torn ACL this spring, but the former Myrtle Beach High standout is ahead of schedule with his rehab and is expected to return to the field at some point this season.

“It’s really up to him and the doctors,” Swinney said. “All I can tell you is that when you have injuries like that, the doctors have benchmarks that you should be at at certain times with your rehabilitation, and he’s way above every benchmark. To use (head athletic trainer) Pat Richards’ word, he’s a freak. That’s exactly what he said.

“(Randall) looks great and is doing awesome, but when he’s ready, he’s ready. It’s not like he’s a senior and is going to miss games.”
Swinney compared Randall’s progress to that of former Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers, who’s now with the Green Bay Packers. Rogers tore his ACL during the spring of 2019 but was playing by Week 2. He went on to start 10 games during that 2019 season.

“Honestly I wasn’t very comfortable with him getting back out there, but Amari was going to fight somebody if you didn’t let him play because he was above everything,” Swinney recalled of Rodgers’ rehab. “And he was amazing. Had an awesome year coming back and followed that up with a  great senior year.”

But Swinney reiterated Clemson will “kind of go with what the doctors say” as far as determining when Randall will be back on the field and stopped short of making any promises as to exactly when that might be. Clemson is slated to open fall camp Aug. 5.

“I know he’ll play at some point,” Swinney said. “Is that the first game or the 10th game? I don’t know. We’ll see when that is, but I do know he’s going to have a heck of a freshman year and a great career for us.”

Clemson offense and defense raving about freshman slot receiver

During his media session on Tuesday, wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham was high on a freshman receiver who has impressed players on both sides of the ball during summer workouts.

Despite not participating in a formal practice session yet, one of Clemson’s freshman receivers is already drawing high praise from his teammates.

Since he didn’t enroll early in the spring, wide receiver Antonio Williams was not a participant in Clemson’s spring practice sessions and has only been able to do player-led activities this summer. Still, wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham has liked the feedback he’s been getting from players.

“Guys are raving about him both on offense and defense,” Grisham said. “When you have your defensive guys talking about a receiver, they don’t want to give receivers much praise. Whenever you can get that, especially on a freshman, that’s pretty awesome.”

Coming out of high school, the 6-foot, 180-pound Williams was a four-star prospect and the No. 9 wide receiver in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

With Williams’ frame and skillset, Grisham said he will start in the slot position.

“We knew that he was a great player,” Grisham said. “He also knew that there was a need for a guy like him in our offense (after) losing Amari (Rodgers) from a couple of seasons ago. He’s done exceptionally well from what I’m hearing this summer.”

Grisham added that the staff could use Williams in the return game along with freshman Adam Randall and rising sophomore Will Taylor.

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Grisham updates status of injured receivers

With the start of fall camp just weeks away, Tyler Grisham updated the status of a couple of his receivers working their way back from injury. E.J. Williams and freshman Adam Randall each missed part of all of the spring with knee injuries. But …

With the start of fall camp just weeks away, Tyler Grisham updated the status of a couple of his receivers working their way back from injury.

E.J. Williams and freshman Adam Randall each missed part of all of the spring with knee injuries. But Clemson’s receivers coach said both continue to make strides in their recovery.

Randall had surgery in April to repair a torn ACL that cut his spring short. Grisham said Randall, a prized receiver signee out of Myrtle Beach High, is “in good spirits” and voiced optimism that the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder will be back in action at some point this season.

“(Randall) helped us out with the latest clinic and was out there with his mom,” Grisham said Tuesday. “So he’s OK, and he’s ahead of schedule. That’s what I’ll say relating to his recovery. He’s ahead of schedule, and they rave about him down there (in rehab).”

Williams missed multiple games last season with various injuries and didn’t participate this spring after having his knee scoped, but Grisham said the junior wideout should be “full go” at the start of fall camp.

“Which is awesome,” Grisham added. “He’s a starter for us. He’s in that top group of guys that we know what he can do.”

The Newcomer Files: Adam Randall

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus. Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus …

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus.

Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus this summer. The Clemson Insider is taking a closer look at each newcomer and the likelihood of him contributing immediately this fall based on development and positional need.

Next up is Adam Randall.

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 215 pounds

Ranking: 4 stars (247Sports Composite)

Previous school: Myrtle Beach High

Early enrollee? Yes

The skinny: Randall arrived at Clemson in January as one of the top in-state prospects in the 2022 recruiting cycle. He was a first-team Class 4A all-state selection, a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football and an Under Armour All-American following a senior high school season in which he caught 65 passes for 1,267 yards and 16 touchdowns. Randall has a prototypical body type for an outside receiver, where he spent most of the spring repping.

That was before he suffered a torn ACL that cut his spring short. All things considered, the outlook is positive for Randall, whom Clemson coach Dabo Swinney expects to be back at some point during fall camp. Randall impressed coaches and teammates alike this spring with his impressive physique and advanced technique at the position for such a young player (he’s 17 years old). He was getting some second-team reps, an indication of just how quickly Randall was catching on before the injury. Exactly what kind of role Randall will have this fall will depend largely on how soon he can fully recover, but Clemson still has some depth on the outside with Joseph Ngata, E.J. Williams, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins all having played the position before.

Bresee, other injured Tigers ‘progressing well’

It’s been nearly two full months since Clemson’s football team concluded a spring that was missed completely or in part by more than 20 players recovering from injuries. Most of them, including star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, have been …

It’s been nearly two full months since Clemson’s football team concluded a spring that was missed completely or in part by more than 20 players recovering from injuries.

Most of them, including star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, have been recovering from injuries that occurred last season, but a couple of new injuries to freshmen Jeadyn Lukus (shoulder surgery) and Adam Randall (torn ACL) popped up during the spring, which ended April 9 with the Tigers’ annual Orange and White game.

Other than Randall, though, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he doesn’t anticipate anyone who was sidelined this spring to not be ready for the start of fall camp.

“It’s good to see them all heading in that direction, and hopefully come August, we can get through the summer and everybody is in a good spot,” Swinney said during Clemson’s Prowl & Growl stop in the Charleston area Tuesday. “If we’re halfway more healthy, it’s going to be a better year for us.”

Bresee, widely projected to be a high pick in next year’s NFL Draft, is nearly eight full months removed from surgery to repair his knee ligament. Bresee did some light running on the side during the spring, but Swinney said the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder has progressed to where “he’s moving and doing everything.”

“Everybody is progressing well,” Swinney added. “We had a lot of guys out. We only had one scholarship back this spring. (Receiver) E.J. (Williams) was out, and he’s getting back going. Obviously (receiver and punt returner) Will Taylor, he’s back going and you see what he’s doing already (with the baseball team). He’s just a natural. He’s got that it factor. That’s why he was kind of where he was heading early with us last year.”

As for Randall, Swinney said the first-year receiver is ahead of schedule in his rehab and is expected to be back at some point during fall camp. The fact that Randall’s tear was isolated to one ligament has helped with his recovery.

“It was best-case scenario for him and for us,” Swinney said.

Swinney updates status of two injured freshmen

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – It’s been a couple of months since two of Clemson’s early enrollees went down with injuries that cut their first spring with the Tigers short. Incoming freshmen Adam Randall and Jeadyn Lukus added to Clemson’s lengthy injury …

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – It’s been a couple of months since two of Clemson’s early enrollees went down with injuries that cut their first spring with the Tigers short. 

Incoming freshmen Adam Randall and Jeadyn Lukus added to Clemson’s lengthy injury list this spring when both sustained setbacks that required surgery. Lukus, a prized in-state cornerback signee from Mauldin, had shoulder surgery shortly after spring break in mid-March while Randall, a receiver from Myrtle Beach, tore an ACL late in the spring that required reconstructive surgery.

Speaking to reporters during Clemson’s stop in the Charleston area Tuesday as part of the school’s Prowl & Growl tour, football coach Dabo Swinney said both players continue to progress in their recovery. Swinney added Lukus will be ready for the start of fall camp.

“Jeadyn’s doing well,” Swinney said.

As for Randall, his return will take a little longer, though Swinney said he expects it to be sometime before the Tigers’ Labor Day opener against Georgia Tech.

“Adam will be in camp, and I think he’ll be progressing in a good spot,” Swinney said. “Exactly when he’ll be back on the field, I don’t know. He’ll be back some time. He’s not out for the year. When that exact day is, we’ll see. He is doing well.”

Swinney said Randall’s operation was “very, very clean” with the tear being isolated to his ACL rather than multiple ligaments. His healing and rehab since have been ahead of schedule, Swinney said.

“There’s always kind of a measuring point and standards that (doctors) want them to meet at certain timeframes, and he’s been ahead of every step,” Swinney said. “He’s been ahead of where they hoped he would be.”

Both newcomers figure to help out immediately if they can get healthy and remain that way this fall. Swinney said he saw enough from the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Lukus in nine spring practices to know he can contribute as a freshman at a position that’s shorter on experience and depth with Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich off to the NFL. 

Randall made a similar first impression. The 6-2, 215-pounder turned heads this spring with an NFL-ready physique and advanced fundamentals and technique for a first-year player, prompting Swinney to include Randall among a rare breed of receiver at Clemson that arrived on campus ready to contribute.

Clemson drops and falls outside top 10 in ESPN’s college football rankings

Based on ESPN’s most recent college football rankings, Clemson will have to prove it belongs in the CFP discussion next season.

After missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2015, Clemson will have to re-earn a top 10 spot in rankings next season.

Led by one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, the Tigers finished the 2021 season with a 10-3 record, but compared to their previous appearances in the CFP, it was considered a down year by many.

With the drop in performance, ESPN doesn’t have the same level of optimism for next season as in years past, as it has Clemson at No. 12 in the country in the way-too-early top 25. In the top 11 and above Clemson, some notable teams are North Carolina State, USC, Oklahoma State, Utah and Michigan State.

Here’s what ESPN’s Mark Schlabach had to say about the Tigers dropping from their previous ranking at No. 11.

Previous ranking: 11
2021 record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Returning starters: 10 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Key departures: LB Baylon Spector, LB James Skalski, CB Andrew Booth Jr., FS Nolan Turner, CB Mario Goodrich, WR Justyn Ross
Key additions: QB Cade Klubnik, CB Jeadyn Lukus, WR Antonio Williams, OT Collin Sadler, WR Adam Randall, CB Toriano Pride, CB Sherrod Covil Jr.
Spring update: Clemson has two new coordinators — Brandon Streeter on offense and Wes Goodwin on defense — and coach Dabo Swinney hopes the Tigers return to their old ways after slipping with three losses in 2021. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei shed about 25 pounds in the offseason after struggling in his first season as the full-time starter. Uiagalelei left spring practice atop the depth chart, but he might continue to be pushed by Klubnik, an early enrollee, who looked good over 15 practices. Clemson’s defensive line had its way in the spring game against a thin offensive line. Randall, who was expected to help the wide receiver corps, might miss the season after suffering a torn ACL in his knee during the spring.

Clemson has a manageable regular season schedule in 2022, so if the Tigers can win at least 11 games in that stretch, they should return to a high position in the rankings.

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Four Clemson freshmen who could make an immediate impact in 2022

Clemson’s 2022 class is filled with highly-touted recruits, but four specific players are drawing attention as immediate contributors.

Clemson is no stranger to freshmen making a day-one impact on the field. Between quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Justyn Ross, the Tigers have been blessed with talented and productive first-year players in years past.

Ranked as No. 10 in the country by 247Sports Composite, Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class has two five-star commits and eight four-star commits among 20 total players in the class. Nine of the 20 enrolled early in the spring, giving coaches and fans an early glimpse of the team’s newcomers.

Clemson’s spring game and the spring practices don’t compare to an entire college football season. Still, with high school film, coaches’ comments and the available college film, there is sufficient evidence to predict which freshmen are immediate impact players.

Although he doesn’t make this list, four-star wide receiver Adam Randall is a name to keep an eye on as October and November approach. Randall received great praise from the coaching staff in the spring before suffering a torn ACL in practice. If recovery goes well and he can return to the field in 2022, Randall could help fill the void left behind Ross’ departure to the NFL.

With Randall coming off a significant injury, here are four other Clemson freshmen who matter the most, according to Chris Hummer of 247Sports.

Swinney updates Randall’s status following injury

A couple of days after news came down that Clemson’s receiving corps had been dealt another injury blow, head coach Dabo Swinney updated the outlook on true freshman Adam Randall. Randall sustained a torn ACL during one of the Tigers’ spring …

A couple of days after news came down that Clemson’s receiving corps had been dealt another injury blow, head coach Dabo Swinney updated the outlook on true freshman Adam Randall.

Randall sustained a torn ACL during one of the Tigers’ spring practices last week. Clemson confirmed Randall’s injury Monday, and Swinney said Randall will undergo surgery Thursday morning.

But Swinney voiced optimism that Randall will be back in action at some point this fall. Swinney said he didn’t know if Randall would return in time for fall camp, but he added anything is possible.

As for how the injury happened, Swinney said it was a “crazy deal.”

“He just stuck his foot in the ground,” Swinney said. “That’s pretty much how all of these ACLs happen that I’ve seen in my career. Most of the time, it’s non-contact. It’s like, ‘Wow.’ But the good news for Adam is it’s best-case scenario. A lot of these ACLS, there’s multiple ligament damage, and his was completely isolated. Very clean. No swelling at all. So that’s why he can do surgery in the morning.

“He’ll be back. They won’t cut his leg off. He’s still going to have a great freshman year. He’s going to be just fine. He’s just got to redirect his focus in the summer than what it would’ve been. He’s got to really grind and get through the rehab, but he had a great spring. He’s going to be very confident from that. He’ll be back ready to go.”

Clemson has dealt with a rash of injuries at receiver since last season when Justyn Ross, Joseph Ngata and E.J. Williams all ended it on the shelf. Ngata returned this spring with a clean bill of health, but Williams (knee) has missed all of the spring season. Beaux Collins (hamstring) recently sustained an injury that will keep him out of Saturday’s Orange-White game.

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