'I'm ready to win': This big Manual lineman has even bigger plans for Rams football
PEORIA — Progress has become routine in Jeremiah Clements’ time at Manual.
The budding Division-I prospect has grown as a Rams two-way, four-year starter and wants to win this season. Clements, every bit of his 6-foot-3, 349-pound frame, has tasted victory just twice in his 22-game varsity career.
Clements holds scholarship offers from Western Illinois and Roosevelt University, a Division-II program based in Chicago. He’s also made unofficial visits to Southern Illinois and Butler.
“I’m hoping for a good season, he said, “so I can get some more (offers).”
As of now, his eyes are set on making the playoffs, something Manual hasn’t done since 2010.
“I’m ready to win,” the left tackle said. “I’ve been losing. I’m ready to win. I’m ready to go to the playoffs. I ain’t touched the playoffs. I’m ready to touch the playoffs.”
In Week 1, Clements and the Rams showed some big-time, on-the-field growth. After losing to Peoria Notre Dame by 39 points last season, Manual played PND down to the wire before losing 40-38.
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A strong gameplan from new coach Dennis Bailey against a tough Irish wing-T offense gets a lot of the credit for keeping Manual in the game, according to Clements.
“You build off a loss just by putting in more work than you already put in,” he said. “You just got to want it. I know my team wants it, but I think we got to want it more. … The next eight weeks? Put in more work.”
Manual (0-1, 0-1 in Big 12 Conference) showed off its vastly improved offense. The Rams maxed out at 22 points twice last season and were ready to throw Marquis Woodson under center. The senior, however, tweaked his ankle in practice, forcing London Toliver to make the start.
The 5-foot-7, 146-pound junior threw for 294 yards and five touchdowns on 8-for-11 passing. Wideout Carrion Ferrell caught three of those TDs for 123 yards.
“(London) did great,” Clements said. “He stepped up (when) QB1 was out.”
As for Clements, his physique has gone under some major changes from his junior year. He weighed in at 373 pounds last season, putting on 25 pounds from the year prior. Offseason conditioning this summer helped the defensive tackle drop that weight and get him back to where he was weight-wise as a second-year player.
Bailey says Clements is noticeably slimmer and has a lot more bounce in his play after buying into working out over the summer.
“Normally, I’m asking the coach, ‘Can I get a wind?’ ” Clements said. “Now, I’m playing 48 minutes. … I’m aggressive. I’m real aggressive. I love contact. That’s why (Bailey) put the pressure on me.”
The first-year coach also notes Clements’ work ethic is carrying over to his position groups.
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“Trying to be a leader,” Bailey said of what he’s seen the most improvement from Clements. “Getting on his guys when they’re out of line. Just stepping up and being a leader. Almost being an assistant coach out there. Making sure guys are in tune with what we’re trying to do as a team and not individually.”
Champaign Centennial (1-0) is next on the docket for the Rams with a 7 p.m. Friday kick. Meetings with Danville, Kankakee, and Peoria High come in the following three weeks.
Believe it or not, Manual brings a bit of renewed belief heading into its Week 2 meeting with the Chargers.
“It’s a big confidence boost that we played (PND) all the way to the last second,” Bailey said, “but we’d like to get a W out of it. We showed that we can go toe to toe with one of the toughest teams in the conference.
“That gives us confidence moving forward.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: Division I recruit from Manual has big plans for future
