University of Memphis Athletics
Derek Clenin Is a Team Player
Oct 20, 2006 | Football
Oct. 20, 2006
By: Charlie Gillingham
"I just want to help the team anyway I can."
It might be one of the biggest clichés in sports. However, Derek Clenin is proof that there are still players out there who live by that motto.
As a running back at Memphis University School, Clenin racked up numerous personal honors and led the Owls to a No. 3 ranking in the state in 2002. But when it came time to choose where he would play his college career, Clenin ultimately chose to stay close to home and bolster an already strong Tiger secondary. The Memphis native said a promise from head coach Tommy West made him believe he could help the Tigers.
"What steered me toward Memphis was sitting down with coach West and hearing what he was trying to do with his program and the types of kids he wanted to bring in. He stressed the philosophy of holding everyone accountable and if one fails, we all fail. It seemed such a great team-oriented philosophy and he told me I would have the opportunity to earn a scholarship and play. Those were the two things I wanted to hear," Clenin said. "He was the biggest influence on me. Out of all the coaches I talked to, I believed in his system and what he told me when I came on my official visit."
As a walk-on, Clenin found himself looking for playing time and trying to prove himself among established veterans and scholarship winning freshmen. However, Clenin never lost his team-first attitude.
"You have to realistically look at the guys in front of you," Clenin said. "We have a lot of really good players on this team. Wesley Smith has started all four years and is probably going into the NFL. You just have to keep pulling as hard as you can for your team, keep working as hard as you can to prove yourself and earn a place on the field. I just want to help the team win, and if that meant coming on special teams or coming off the bench as a sub, then that's what I was going to do."
Clenin made his presence felt immediately on the Tiger special teams unit by earning his first letter and registering four tackles and two solo stops his freshman season. He recovered a blocked punt against Southern Miss and ran from sideline to sideline to make a touchdown saving tackle on a return against Houston. The coaching staff took notice and Clenin began getting more playing time.
Clenin saw more time as a sub in the defensive backfield his sophomore season as well as continuing to standout on special teams. Clenin proved his toughness after tearing his MCL and returning to the lineup in time for the Tigers trip to the GMAC Bowl.
Clenin played in all 12 games during his junior campaign and made his first career start by filling in at safety for teammate Rod Smith who was recovering from an injury. Clenin came off the bench against UTEP and returned his first career interception to the Miner 9-yard line to set up a game winning touchdown, a performance that netted him C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
After three years of spot duty and special teams coverage, Clenin had developed the mindset coaches love to see out of players on the sideline.
"If you're just wandering around on the sidelines and then you're thrown into the game, you have no idea what they've been running and what their tendencies are, Clenin said. "You try to learn the tendencies of that offense by watching game film, but you don't really know until game time. I try to visualize what will happen before the play happens. So once I do get in there, I have an idea of what that offense is going to run with their formations. It's tough. You have to stay prepared at all times as hard as that might be, because you might not get in at all. But if you do get in, you better seize the opportunity you've been given because they don't come along that often."
Time and time again Clenin seized the opportunities the Tiger coaching staff gave him, and prior to his senior season, West rewarded Clenin with a scholarship.
"Day in and day out you have to prove yourself against guys who had scholarships coming out of high school. That's why I loved what coach West told me when I sat down with him on my official visit," Clenin said. "I really appreciate him holding to his word after seeing me work with the team and filling in wherever I was told. That really speaks to his character."
Once again Clenin made his biggest impact on special teams, but also made his second career start when he filled in for Wesley Smith at safety in the Tennessee game. A severe ankle sprain against UAB put Clenin back on the sidelines, however the possibility of returning before the end of 2006 remains.
In the meantime, Clenin will do what he's always done, work as hard as he can and support his team through the home stretch of the season. Since his injury, Clenin has not missed a practice, and has been very vocal in rooting on his defensive teammates during the workouts.
"It's been difficult," Clenin said. "But, this is the time when the team has to come together more than ever. This has always been a hard working team, and it's going to stay that way. If we continue to work hard, we can get back to winning. We just have to keep reminding each other of that."
