Big man on the lake: Clemson OL Jordan McFadden challenged to try wakeboarding
CHARLOTTE – Jordan McFadden is a lot of things.
Veteran leader of Clemson's offensive line. All-ACC. NFL prospect. Honor roll student. Big man on campus.
Thrill-seeker? Not exactly.
When the Tigers were in Orlando, Florida, for last season's bowl game, McFadden couldn't be talked into going on The Hulk, one of the biggest – and scariest – rides at Universal's Islands of Adventures theme park.
"I'm not a fan of rollercoasters – at all," McFadden, the graduate student and former Dorman High School said during ACC Kickoff on Wednesday.
So when it comes to fun on Lake Hartwell, where Clemson players spend so much time during the summers, the 310-pound McFadden prefers being in the boats instead of behind them holding a rope and trying to balance on a tiny piece of fiberglass.
Wakeboarding, however, is his offseason challenge.
How would that look, exactly?
"I don't know. It would be interesting," Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said. "I think he could definitely do it if he tried. He'd be a big dude on there, though. The biggest person I've seen do it is (300-pound defensive end) Bryan (Bresee). He's a big dude. It looks like the board is going to break in half."
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McFadden's biggest challenge comes from defensive end K.J. Henry, an accomplished surfer who would be first-team all-Hartwell.
"I think one of the only reasons K.J. can get up on the wakeboard is because he's 250, all right? I'm 310 pounds, so it's probably a little harder for me."
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Henry is quick to point out, however, that McFadden's predecessor at left tackle, 320-pound Jackson Carman of the Cincinnati Bengals, is a wakeboarder.
"Jackson Carman used to kill the wakeboard," Henry said. "He's bigger than Jordan. I told J-Mac, 'You know, that's some excuses. That's the I-can't mindset. You've got to get that right.' It's all mental for him."
McFadden reluctantly agreed.
"I'm going to try to get it by the time the season starts," he said.
But no rollercoasters.
Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson's 310-pound offensive lineman Jordan McFadden challenged to wakeboard
