'Bend Don't Break' Mentality has Clemson D Playing Better

CLEMSON – The 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers’ decisive victory over the Stanford Cardinal last Saturday featured a slew of explosive offensive plays on the ground and in the air.

Clemson’s offensive eruption in its last three games has demanded attention and praise.

However, the Tigers defense has shown they also have the firepower to change and win games.

Two Clemson defenders stopped potential Cardinal scoring drives in the red zone with first-quarter interceptions. Both turnovers helped limit Stanford to one score before the halftime break.

Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus caught the second interception, as quarterback Ashton Daniels threw up a jump ball on the Cardinal’s third possession of the game.

Lukus, a former Top 60 recruit from Mauldin, S.C., has been at the helm of several big plays this year, but the interception was his first since 2022. After injuries to both shoulders and a hip derailed his progress in 2023, he is excited to be making plays this year.

“I have treatment during the week trying to keep (the shoulder) strong,” he said. “During practice maybe not try to go up and like do some crazy acrobatic stuff and fall on the ground, tone it down a little bit. But during the game, nothing is different.”

Lukus’ recovery and return to the field mirrors a mantra that he uses to characterize the defense’s play in the Stanford game.

“Bend, but don’t break,” he said.

Lukus also observed the unbreakable trait in the 80,000-plus Clemson fans that ventured to Memorial Stadium last Saturday despite Hurricane Helene’s damage.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I know it was a crazy week for everyone, but it was definitely cool seeing that there was that many people still watching us play.”

The Tigers defense has another chance to show what they are made of as they hit the road for their first true road game of the season this Saturday against Florida State.