Note: The following appears in the Duke football gameday program.
Peter Nearn joined the Clemson football team as a walk-on safety in 2021. Four and a half years after taking big risks, the Memphis, Tenn. native has seen those pay dividends, both on and off the field.
When asked to recall that first home game in a Tiger jersey, he spoke of both intense nerves but an utter excitement that overcame all other emotions.
“I had never played in front of so many people in such a big stadium. It was a thrill.”
In 2024, Nearn recorded Clemson’s first recovered fumble of the season, and it was a moment he will remember forever. When asked about what he felt after that play, he explained how surreal it all was. From running down the Hill for the first time to making a big play on the field, it was the moment he had worked so hard for.
“It was unreal. I did my job on the play and was in the right place at the right time. The ball was right there, so I jumped on it and I thought to myself, ‘I got the ball…no way I got the ball!’ I don’t remember anything if not for a video of me running to the student section and ripping off the pullover #97 jersey I had on.”
As a safety for the Tigers, Nearn naturally spends most of his time with Mickey Conn, who became Clemson’s full-time assistant coach for safeties in the 2017 season. When asked about his relationship with Conn, Nearn explained how he has been such an impactful influence in his life, both athletically and spiritually.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Conn as a man. He is a big reason why I came back after my brief retirement from January to July. He has encouraged me to pursue the Lord in everything I do, and he is a great example of how to do that.”
Not to mention, the chance to be coached by Dabo Swinney is something that he will cherish forever, along with the numerous one-liners more commonly known as “Swinneyisms.”
“I’ve loved the opportunity to constantly hear from such a great leader and I have plenty of ‘Swinneyisms’ memorized that I am able to apply to my life. I have learned how to put my head down and work really hard no matter the outcome of the previous week.”
Nearn credited his readiness for the workforce to the countless resources that Clemson has for its student-athletes. He has completed three microinternships through the P.A.W. Journey program with Adobe, Northwestern Mutual and Segars Ranch.
“P.A.W. Journey has been a great thing to tap into since I’ve always known my football career will not go beyond Clemson. I have been very unsure of my career path, and these microinternships have been a great way for me to experience everything from raising cattle to financial services to tech sales.”
Nearn hopes to join the workforce and pursue a career in the financial industry, and he is incredibly grateful for the connections he has made throughout his time at Clemson that will lead him into the professional world.
When asked if he had any advice he would give his freshman-year self, he gave two short but very profound messages.
“Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and have no regrets when you take a risk.”
These two pieces of advice encapsulate Nearn’s time as a Tiger. His journey may not have been traditional, but it has been one that is marked by an admirable work ethic and striking resilience that have made him a true Clemson man.
