Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Senior running back Eduardo Clements is the heart and soul of the Miami Hurricanes. A highly touted recruit out of Miami Booker T. High School, Clements faced struggles during his college career. None of those struggles were close to the setback suffered last season, though.
Against the Florida State Seminoles, Clement was blocking on the kickoff return team when he is was blindsided. Initially, he brushed it off, but later lost feeling in his hands. The doctors diagnosed him with two herniated discs in his neck. His junior season came to and end.
Scarier was the possibility that his football career was over. He wore a neck brace well into the spring, and privately the coaches weren’t counting on him for 2013.
But Clements did make it back. The brace is off, he is back in shape and the fiery leadership has returned to the Miami practice fields. With the explosive freshman season of Duke Johnson, Clement has had to accept a back-up role. That suits him just fine. He is just happy to be out there.
Clements is due to graduate in December with a liberal arts degree. There have been informal talks with head coach Al Golden about the possibility of Clements returning to the U as a graduate assistant coach. Clements has called pursuing a coaching career “a dream.”
There is no doubt Clements has the leadership skills to be a fine football coach. He has shown toughness, perseverance and determination throughout his injury.
Whether he has a good or bad season for Miami is irrelevant. He has already had a positive impact.
Chris Cunningham is a college football writer for www.RantSports.com. You are encouraged to troll him on Twitter @cunn1431.
