When Alabama junior running back and former Dalton High standout Jahmyr Gibbs was asked in a recent news conference about why he decided to compete in this Friday afternoon’s Sugar Bowl and not opt out, his answer made perfect sense.
“I was always going to play since I’ve never been in one,” Gibbs said. “I wanted to experience it.”
Wesley Walker was a class ahead of Gibbs when the two were Georgia Tech teammates, and Walker also will be vying in his first college postseason game Friday night when Tennessee and Clemson collide in the Orange Bowl. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound redshirt junior defensive back has already played twice against the Tigers and has already played in Hard Rock Stadium, which houses the Miami Hurricanes.
“Clemson is a really disciplined and savvy team,” Walker said last week. “I have a good idea on the way they run their plays. I’m just going to go back and watch our old games when I was at Georgia Tech and remember what was going through my head as I was playing in the game.
“I would say that I have a good feel for what they’re going to do and what they’re going to try and do.”