Hey Guys, more bio of Vontrell Jamison, he says that he runs 4.7 in 40, but im thinking more around 4.8, but he did say that he benched 415 and squat 500, so thats pretty good. Senior defensive end Vontrell Jamison said Tuesday he will not be returning to Clemson this fall.
Jamison, in an interview with Tigerillustrated.com, said his second attempt to gain another year of eligibility was denied.
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Tigerillustrated.com
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Former two-star rated defensive lineman Vontrell Jamison will now turn his focus towards the NFL.
"I had sent off for another year of eligibility last fall after I got injured. But before the Christmas break I found out the NCAA rejected my request. Today I got a call from Becky Bowman and she told me they denied it again. This is it. I'm not coming back. This was the last straw for me. This last time was actually an appeal from the first time I got rejected," said Jamison. "I talked to Ms. Bowman around 4:30pm today, and I could tell when she started talking that it wasn't good news. She was pretty disappointed, because she wanted me to get another year. She had been sending off paperwork back and forth to the NCAA for me, so she had been handling all of it. She was rooting for me."
Jamison, who came to Clemson with three years to play three, was the victim of tough luck last August when he suffered a broken arm during workouts. After playing three games in the 2004 season, logging just 62 snaps, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
The 6-foot-7, 282-pound lineman said it was difficult sitting on the sidelines last season. "It was pretty difficult. It was tough. I'm still mad about not being able to contribute. To stand by and not play, and then to see them boys beat Miami knowing I couldn't play was rough. But I kept telling myself that God has a better plan for me. I know he does. Things happen for a reason, and for whatever reason it wasn't meant to be that I finish my career at Clemson healthy."
The Holly Hill native is in school taking classes, and is eyeing graduation, though it is possible that may be put on hold due to overtures from a couple of NFL teams. "I expect to graduate, and I will graduate, but I might put that on hold for awhile. I might be taking some time off, soon. I had been looking at graduating in August, but that's not going to happen now. I've been contacted by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers. They are coming to our Pro Day, and they're going to look at me hard. I haven't signed with an agent yet, but I've been talking to some people who have given me some advice. I'm going to try to get up to 290 pounds by the time Pro Day is here. Right now I'm 282 pounds."
Jamison, whose major is Sports Management, said all he wants at the end of the day is an opportunity to get his foot in the door at the NFL level. "Everybody has already said that I have the potential. I've got the size and speed, and I've got athleticism. I think I may play defensive tackle or defensive end. I don't know. I don't care. I just know that I want an opportunity to get my foot in the door."
The Holly Hill product, who was a mere two-star rated prospect in the 2002 recruiting class after spending a couple of years at Gulfcoast Community College (Gulfport, MS), initiallly picked Clemson over offers from South Carolina and Ole Miss. While on his recruiting (official) visit, his host was then defensive end Bryant McNeal. His recruiter was current offensive line coach Brad Scott.
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Tigerillustrated.com
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Jamison played in just three games during the 2004 season, his last at Clemson.
Jamison played just two snaps in 2002, used sparingly as a reserve at offensive tackle. In 2003 he logged 298 snaps, registering 27 tackles and two sacks. The talented lineman said a big factor in his decision to stick it out with football this long was the motivation and encouragement he received from key people while at Clemson. "Thielen Smith was a big inspiration to me. I talked to him the other day. Since he has been fired he has been in good spirits. He told me he felt he would be alright in the end. Coach Smith was great because he reached out to everybody, whether you played for him or not. He had a great relationship with the players on the team. He always spoke the truth, and he helped get me where I am today. Becky Bowman has been real to me. (Strength and conditioning) Coach (Joey) Batson was great. Coach Batson is a man I look up to and respect a lot. I have a good relationship with him. He cares about me as a person, not just as a player. I'm in there everyday getting treatments at 6am. I'm usually in the weight room by noon. I'm full speed, full strength right now. I'll be back. Clemson people need to know that I will be back. I run a 4.7, and I bench press 415 (squat max: 500), and I'm in good condition, so I should be 100 percent by the time the middle of March rolls around, and coach Batson will be there with me every step of the way."
Jamison, who is close with fellow teammates (DE) Maurice Fountain and (FS) Travis Pugh, said he felt coach (Tommy) Bowden would keep the program moving forward in years to come. "Coach Bowden is a pretty good coach. I always felt like I could go in there and talk to him if something major came up. He will have the team on the right track. The players have the talent. It is not a matter of talent. I look at those boys everyday, and they're working hard, and they're putting their heart and soul into everything. I think it's just a matter of everybody coming together as one. Somebody will have to step up."
Jamison said he had been contacted by an agent, but had not yet made a decision on when to sign.
When asked to give a parting shot, the former junior college star simply said, "Tell Clemson people to keep me in their prayers. They're going to see me again. It's just going to be on another level."
