In the NFL, coaches will allow certain veteran players to sit out mini-camps and other organized team activities during the off-season.
Why?
It is a reward for their leadership and experience through the years, but it is also to help their older bodies rest and recover from a grueling season the year before.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney took a page out of the NFL coaches’ playbook during the Tigers’ mat drills this last month. He allowed his six-year players—linebacker James Skalski, safety Nolan Turner, running back Darien Rencher, defensive end Regan Upshaw and punter Will Spiers—to sit out mat drills and instead help coach.