C.J. Spiller working to keep 'high standard' in Tigers tailback room

CLEMSON — C.J. Spiller is still working on finding his coaching voice.

The Clemson tailback turned running backs coach has had to readjust over the last year. When he joined Dabo Swinney’s staff as a grad assistant last August, Spiller immersed himself in the program to find his coaching style and learn how Tony Elliott runs Clemson’s offense. So when he was promoted to running backs coach in February, he had an idea of how he wanted to approach the job.

But this spring has reminded him of what he has to learn. The season of working under Elliott prepared him, but he still has a long road ahead. Spiller knows what the standard is in the running back room at Clemson — he helped set it. But now he is at the helm of the room, tasked with keeping the tradition and standard at a high level.

“I understand there is a high standard in this room,” he said last week. “I don’t take that for granted and I understand that it is a blessing to be in the position I’m in because it’s not every day you get to coach at your alma mater.”

Spiller’s first task since taking the job has been to ready the room for the fall, especially after Travis Etienne’s departure for the NFL. The most prolific running back in ACC history, Etienne leaves a vast hole at the tailback position. But Spiller has a talented  room to work with, which includes Lyn-J Dixon, Kobe Pace, Will Shipley and Phil Mafah.

Dixon is a senior and the frontrunner to win the job. But Pace is a sophomore and drawing comparisons to Nick Chubb. Shipley has reportedly been a top performer at summer workouts. Spiller does not seem rushed to make a decision on the starting job or share if he has a pecking order.

“It’s going to take more than one person to get through the season,” he said. “You never know when your opportunity is gonna come. But always tell the guys ‘prepare just like you’re the starter.’ Because you never know when that time is going to come for you to be the starter. If you’re not prepared then I don’t have the trust or the faith to put you out there. All my guys have done a great job of that this spring, making sure they prepare like they’re the starter just in case we do have some little small injuries here and there. I can just plug you in there and you’re ready to go.

“Because at the end of the day, the standard isn’t going to change no matter who runs out there.”

C.J. Spiller has established one thing about his coaching style through the spring. From his time playing at Clemson and in the NFL, he knows the importance of a running back room coming together as one.

That’s why he asks all his tailbacks to drop their egos when they walk in his room. ‘

“The thing I love most about these guys is they all come ready to work and ready to learn,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing you want as a coach. Guys coming here eager to learn, put on that hardhat and get to work. That’s one of my things I tell them: You leave your ego at the door and you pick it up as you exit the meeting. We can’t have any egos in our room. I’m gonna push you and I’m gonna do a great job of complimenting you, too.”