NFL draft diary: Pitt T T.J. Clemmings views inexperience as plus

USA TODAY Sports has assembled a talented team of prospects to chronicle their paths to the NFL draft. Today's entry is from Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings, a converted defensive end and first-team all-ACC selection who could be a first-round pick.

It is really crazy and great to be a part of the whole draft thing. I used to watch it growing up in Teaneck, N.J. I used to watch some guys I knew go through the combine, the training. You watch and you're like, 'I wish that was me.' And then you never really think that maybe one day you'll get there. Now I'm right in the middle of it, man. Two more months until we find out.

I switched positions in college because I lost my job. I wasn't producing the way my coaches needed me to on the defensive side of the ball. It caused me to lose my starting spot in the 2012 season, and I wanted to get back on the field. The opportunities that my coach brought to me as far as playing offensive line, it felt right at the time to make the move. I looked at it as an opportunity to play in a lot of college games. It turned out great.

There wouldn't be anything interesting for people to watch if there were all just good things about each guy. They want to know, 'OK, what is he bad at? What does he need to work at?' Analysts who break down the tape, break down the good things about me and the bad things about me — it doesn't bother me, because I already know. I already know what I need to do and what I need to get done to be successful. That's really all that matters to me.

Everybody says I'm still raw, and I guess that's a fair assessment of me. You can look at it as a bad thing. Me? I'm looking at it as a positive thing. I've only had one offensive line coach, so the next coach that I get will be able to teach me exactly what they want me to do and how exactly they want me to play the position for their team. There won't be a lot of, 'Man, we've got to try to erase bad habits.' It's a fresh slate really.

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The Senior Bowl was a great learning experience. I wasn't relaxed. I put so much pressure on myself that it affected my performance. I started doing things I haven't done all year. I struggled in the one-on-ones. But that didn't define my whole experience. I struggled, and I admit that I struggled, and I know that I struggled. Every time that I did struggle, that helped me out tremendously as a player and helped me grow up in certain areas. I ended up playing in the game, and I played a pretty good, solid game. I was happy that I finished the week strong.

I absolutely felt better at the combine. I prepared, I trained, and I worked hard in the preparation up until the combine. Plus, I knew guys there. When you know people, and you go to a foreign place, it helps calm your nerves a little bit because you know you're not there alone. A lot of those numbers, like the 32½-inch vertical leap and the 4.54-second 20-yard shuttle, I expected to get because I was hitting those numbers while I was training. I don't think I need to do anything over. I'm going to stick to the offensive line drills at my pro day March 3.

I know the questions are, 'How much football does he know? How much does he understand about playing offensive line?' In my interviews at the combine, it was, 'Hey, go up on the board, talk us through this, draw this up.' And I was able to do so. I didn't feel as if it was like, 'Man, I don't know if I can play on the next level because this is hard, this is different.' I went into the meetings relaxed, calm, and I was myself. That's the biggest thing.

Where I fit in the NFL depends who you ask. I've played right tackle. I know I have the ability to play left tackle as well. I'm preparing myself to play both. Any team that drafts me is getting a guy who's coachable and who wants to be coached up and can be coached up and wants to learn. For me to be able to go from always being a defensive player to playing offensive line in spring ball and in camp, that alone shows, 'This kid can be coached up, he wants to learn, he wants to work, and he wants to play.' That's a great combination in itself right there.

Sometimes, I wake up and it's like, 'Man, you're really that much closer to becoming an NFL player.' Every day I wake up, I try to take care of what's in front of me for that day. I try not to put too much on my plate and get myself all worked up and overwhelmed. I'm a calm person, I'm a laid-back kind of guy. That's how I like to be. That's how I'm really going through this process — just enjoying it. Make sure I soak up every little thing about it, because once it's over, man, it's over. I'm learning to be happy and enjoy where I am and each day that's ahead of me.

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Follow T.J. Clemmings on Twitter at @TAClemmings_90