Spiller: No Regrets on Decision to Return, Excited About Season

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Jul 14 23:00:22 GMT-04:00 2009

CLEMSON – C.J. Spiller, Clemson’s first-ever 10-star recruit, met with the media Tuesday afternoon following one of the Tigers’ summer workouts, and said that he definitely feels the pressure of expectations that were built following the announcement of his return for his senior season.

However, he also said that he is looking forward to what he sees as a special season.

“Yeah, there is a lot of pressure, especially with this being my last season,” Spiller said. “But it is exciting because all of the fans are excited. We have some new coaches, and some really good players coming in. I think everybody believes this is the season that we can finally win that [ACC] Championship.”

Spiller said that will the changes since this time last season, there is a different feel than there was a year ago, and he sees that as a positive and as a senior it is his job to help keep the younger players focused as the excitement of the approaching season builds.

“Amongst the players, we are excited about what lies ahead,” he said. “We know we have to work hard, get prepared for what will hopefully be a great season. We are going to work hard each and every day and keep the young guys focuses on what we have to do as a team.”

Spiller also said that while the summer workouts can be tedious and strenuous, and the fact that the lure of the NFL is still there, he is more than sure he made the right decision in returning to Clemson for his season, prompting head coach Dabo Swinney to break out the “10-star recruit” label.

“I never regret the decisions that I make,” Spiller said. “I make a decision, I stick with it, and I move forward. All I have been focusing on is preparing my body for the 12-to-14 game season that is ahead of me.”

Spiller mentioned that he likes the talent the Tigers have on hand, including at quarterback and the offensive line, two question marks heading into the season.

“The talent on the offensive line has been there since I have been here,” Spiller said. “I just think that the guys on that line have a stronger bond now than they did last season. This line reminds me a whole lot of the line that was here my freshman year [in 2006]. That line worked hard in the off-season, and it paid off in the regular season. This line will be prepared and ready to go because they have put in the time and effort in the off-season, and you can tell it.

“The quarterbacks, they know what to do, and they will be prepared and ready to go. When you think of Kyle and you think of Willy, the first word that pops into my head is leadership. They have both been in the system, they know what is going on out on the field, and they want to be the best, you can see that out on the field every day.”