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ATLANTA – Before Clemson kicked off preseason practices two weeks ago, true freshman cornerback Trayvon Mullen traveled to Atlanta to see his high school coach, Kareem Reid.

Reid, who had overseen Mullen’s prep career at Coconut Creek (Fla.), took a job in April at Westlake High School, as he has family living in the vicinity.

Mullen stopped by to show the fruit of a diet well beyond fruit; he had gained about 10 pounds in less than a month on Clemson’s campus.

“I was like yeah, you’re finally eating and lifting for real now,” Reid recalled. “I have seen in the pictures where his shoulders are finally sticking out now. I wouldn’t be surprised if that kid is 195 pounds and running a 4.3 in two or three years.”

A strong argument could be made for Mullen being the story of Clemson’s camp right now.

A former four-star ranked No. 117 nationally in last year’s class by Rivals.com, Mullen (6-2, 187) was viewed in the industry as more of a prospect who carried long-term upside but would require time to fill out his wiry frame. He maybe weighed 175 as a high school senior, and the coaches at the U.S. Army All-American game in January made him a reserve safety.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, though, carried loftier expectations, and told folks he wouldn’t be surprised if Mullen vied for a spot on the two-deep.

The best-case scenario figured to be back-up duty as the heir apparent to Cordrea Tankersley at boundary corner, where size comes at a premium.

But Mullen has been so good that he is working at the vacated field corner position with sophomore Mark Fields, and no one would be surprised if Mullen is challenging for a starting job sooner than later.