Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Clement hopes to prove naysayers wrong
Rookie back Corey Clement wasn’t thrilled when the NFL draft that returned to Philly didn’t include him. Eventually he got a call from the Eagles, who are searching for a big back to run between the tackles.
PHILADELPHIA >> Home is a 25-minute drive over the Walt Whitman Bridge, down Route 55 for Eagles rookie running back Corey Clement, who starred at Glassboro High.
Clement rushed for 6,245 yards and 34 touchdowns for the Bulldogs ending in 2012. He scored 90 TDs in all and isn’t embarrassed to be reminded about it.
“I love to visit my high school every chance that I possibly get,” Clement said. “All the staff is still there. When I look back, I say these are the grounds I walked on and I can show everybody that you can keep going farther. It’s definitely a small school but dreams are very reachable.”
Clement (5-10, 220) wasn’t thrilled when the NFL draft that returned to Philly didn’t include him. Eventually he got a call from the Eagles, who are searching for a big back to run between the tackles. Basically that was Clement’s job last year, when he ran for 1,375 yards and 15 TDs with the Badgers.
While Clement was ranked 18th out of 189 running backs evaluated by NFL Draft Scout, the 4.68 he ran in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine was a red flag.
Even the 4.59 Clement later clocked at his pro day and the reputation the Badgers have as Running Back U. didn’t help. Clement’s reward for paying his dues under Montee Ball (second round) and Melvin Gordon (first round), who both were drafted, was a oneway ticket to Philly.
“I thought I was among the best in the class,” Clement said. “I was very shocked … that I didn’t get my name called on draft day.”
The Eagles’ dream of drafting running back Christian McCaffrey in the first round blew up when the Panthers took him off the board with the eighth overall pick.
The Eagles eventually traded up to select Donnel Pumphrey, the all-time NCAA leading rusher at San Diego State, in the fourth round.
Pumphrey (5-9, 180) and Clement were sharing the running back snaps at practices with Joe Yearby (5-9, 200) of Miami, a tryout candidate.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was diplomatic assessing Clement.
“Obviously, he’s a bigger back, he’s physical,” Pederson said. “He’s a guy that we know, obviously being from the area. It’s exciting to get guys like that in here who you kind of have a little history with ... He’s someone who could hopefully potentially fill and create some good competition at that running back spot.”
In a worst-case scenario, Clement won’t have to go far for consolation. That’s not his mindset, though.
“Some of the best backs in history are guys who went undrafted,” Clement said. “This is just going to make my story much better.”
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Another rookie at camp Pederson chalks up to a local connection is Weston Steelhammer, the 6-2, 200-pound safety by way of Air Force.
Steelhammer is here on a tryout basis. He played at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La., where Pederson worked.
“He’s a guy that I knew when I coached high school ball,” Pederson said. “He grew up with my son (Drew). It’s great to have those connections to know these guys and then to get him in here, get him going and get him working just to see where he’s at.”
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The rookie camp runs through Sunday.
The next step for rookies and veterans are the Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) that run May 23-25.
OTA’s continue May 30June 1, June 5-6 and June 8-9.
The mandatory minicamp is June 13-15.