The 2017 football season was supposed to be Richard Yeargin’s year.

The redshirt junior had turned the corner in 2016 as he played in 12 games during Clemson’s national championship run and became a key reserve at defensive end. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he was ready to take the next step and compete for even more playing time.

However, life will throw a curveball every once in a while and Yeargin’s came last summer when he was involved in a one-vehicle accident in nearby Greenville, S.C. The accident left Yeargin with a fracture bone in his neck, forcing him to miss the entire 2017 football season before it even began.

It was difficult pill for the redshirt junior to swallow. However, Yeargin did allow it to define him. Instead he rolled with the punches and stayed positive, not just for himself, but for his teammates as well.

“There is an opportunity in adversity for all,” Clemson defensive line coach Todd Bates said prior to the Sugar Bowl. “Richard has grown as well. Yeargin has grown this year mentally and had to go through some tough times that he did not see coming.”

Bates said Yeargin pushed the pause button on his football career and focused more on those things outside of football. He focused on graduating, which he did this past December. Now, he is coming back to football while also having an opportunity to push forward with his education even more.

“He is looking good. He is about 265 pounds. He is working out. He is another guy,” Bates said.

Bates said Yeargin became another coach on the sideline for him this past year as he helped his teammates grow both on and off the field. He was there for the younger guys like Justin Thomas and Logan Rudolph whenever they had a question. He stayed in the group and allowed the veteran players to lean on him as well.

“I told him, whenever his accident happened. After we got through it and everything, I told him, ‘You know who you are now? You are Coach Year,’” Bates said. “’You have to be engaged. You have to know what is going on. You have to help me with these young guys. Can I count on?’ He said, ‘You know it.’

“He has taken on the right perspective in having that adversity. I just think that is a lesson to all of the youngsters out there. Whenever life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Do the best you can.”