How a former Clemson star helped Adam Randall with ACL rehab
CLEMSON — Former Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers had a strong support system behind him after he tore his ACL in the spring of 2019.
Rodgers is now paying that forward and helping a current Clemson receiver who is dealing with the same injury.
Freshman wideout Adam Randall suffered a torn ACL this spring and is still going through the rehab process as he works to get cleared.
Shortly after he was injured, Clemson receivers coach Tyler Grisham was in the room with Randall and overheard a conversation he was having.
“When Adam got injured, I happened to be in the receivers room, and he was on the phone with Amari. Amari was giving him advice,” Grisham recalled. “It was, ‘Here’s what you can do on the side. Here are some extra things you need to be doing.’ … He gave him some encouragement, which was the main thing.”
That encouragement helped put Randall in the right mindset as he started the rehab process.
The Myrtle Beach native will not be ready for the 2022 season opener against Georgia Tech, but Clemson’s coaching staff does expect him to be back some time this season.
Randall is currently ahead of schedule on his rehab, although since he is only a freshman, Clemson will be extremely cautious with him as he works his way back.
Randall was set to be a fairly significant part of Clemson’s offense this season prior to the injury.
“For a mid-year freshman to get in here and to tear his ACL in your first spring, that’s challenging. And he was really doing well,” Grisham said. “It’s frustrating as a coach, because you want him to come in and contribute, and we thought that he could. He was lights out. So very frustrating for all of us.”
Clemson WR Adam Randall talks rehab
Randall spoke with WYFF last week and revealed that he is in a good place mentally as he continues to go through the rehab process.
“I do feel good about my chances of being able to play this year,” he said. “Just recovering, having a great plan, the rehab and our trainers have been doing a good job with me – about two hours every day, just having a good rehab plan.”
Randall would love to be out on the field going through practice when fall camp begins Friday, but that is not an option.
Instead, Randall will take the same mindset that he would have had on the field and use it as he rehabs.
“I feel like me going in there taking it seriously, not playing around, and just being able to continue to grow and get better and get confidence back into my knee that I’ll be able to get back out there [is what I’m doing],” Randall said. “When I’m confident enough, I know that I’ll be able to get back out there and perform at the highest level.”