Two-Minute Drill with Clemson's Brad Felder

How did you end up at Clemson? Did you see an opportunity with Clemson graduating its entire outfield from last season's NCAA team?

"I was going to start working. I went to a tryout in Atlanta (with the Braves) and did pretty good, but I didn't hear anything back so I said I'm going to give up. My mom played basketball (at Clemson) and she was like 'you shouldn't give it up, you're going to be working the rest of your life.' I knew I had a fifth year of eligibility. She knew a couple people up here and made contact with some people and that's when I made up my mind."

Where were you going to work if you gave up baseball?

"I was going to start working with UPS, but I was like, I guess I'll just play and see what happens."

We know you're fast. You've run a 6.3-second 60-yard dash, which would rate as an 80 score on baseball's 20-to-80 scouting scale. What other tools do you bring to the roster at Clemson?

" I feel like I bring some speed and power and (experience) having already been in a program for four years down at The Citadel. I just try to work hard and hustle. I just try to keep to myself and my own business. I talk to guys but I don't try to be real loud. I just try to lead by example."

You're projected to play a lot of right field and were there in the opening day lineup Friday. One of the key tools in right fielder is possessing a strong arm, stopping runners from advancing from first to third, etc. How has your arm come along?

"The throwing program here is awesome. My arm has gotten 100 percent better. It's just a bunch of throwing basically. If your arm hurts, you just throw through it. Before if your arm hurts, I always figured you better stop throwing. I got here and I thought my arm was going to fall off. Finally, I just kept throwing and I got through it and I was like 'Wow it really is a lot stronger.' I feel really good right now. (Coach Jack Leggett) kind of rotates us from right to center to left but I played in right mostly. He wants us to play a little bit at every position."

When did you really feel you had a chance to carve out a role?

"I had a pretty good fall. When I had my meeting with (Leggett) in the fall, coach told me during that meeting that he liked me and that he liked my work ethic. I didn't know until then, and then I realized that I've been doing some things right."