Clemson’s defensive line finally looked like it had some life in it Saturday, and Devarrick Woods was right in the middle of the uptick.
After LSU gashed the Tigers for 309 rushing yards in the opener, Clemson answered by clamping down on Georgia Southern in a 22-7 win. The Eagles managed only 22 yards on 18 carries and just 266 total yards, a sharp turnaround that left head coach Dabo Swinney sounding pleased with the direction of his defense.
"Well, they got better last week. I mean, it was obvious," head coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday.
"I mean, that defense played well. They played really well.
I mean, really, really well. And again, I know we're playing a team that we should beat, but we're down 16-0 versus Troy last year."
The performance mattered even more because Clemson’s offense never really separated itself. The Tigers scored one touchdown and settled for five field goals, but the defense did enough to keep Georgia Southern from building anything on the ground.
Up front, defensive end Will Heldt was the biggest disruptor, finishing with three tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. The defensive tackles, though, are still waiting on their first sack of the season through two games.
"So, we got work to do there, but Devarrick is a guy that, if you watch the tape, he was a problem," Swinney noted.
Woods, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound transfer from Texas State who also spent time at Hinds Community College in Mississippi, posted three tackles against Georgia Southern. Swinney said the stat line didn’t come close to telling the whole story.
"I mean, he's got really good hands. He's got violent hands.
He's got good technique, and he's relentless. He's got bad intentions out there.
I like him."
That kind of praise fits the way Clemson has talked about Woods all summer. Swinney and defensive tackles coach Nick Eason had already described him in camp as "a quiet kid."
Against Georgia Southern, he was anything but quiet on the field. Woods is now listed as a co-starter behind Andy Burburija and Amare Adams, with Burburija leading the defensive tackles with four tackles and Champ Thompson also listed as a co-starter behind him.
Even with the run defense trending up, Clemson still wants more pressure from the interior when opponents drop back to throw. Woods said that part of the group’s game is still a work in progress.
"We can definitely be better," Woods said when asked what the defensive tackles can do to affect quarterbacks more. "Like I said, I feel like we get 1% better each day, so it's gonna come together."
He also said being singled out by Swinney mattered.
"It means a lot. It boosts confidence.
Definitely, seeing all your hard work get noticed," he said. "I'm already a confident person, but like hearing that, it just gives you more confidence."
There’s also a possible new piece coming into the rotation. Vic Burley had his suspension from last month's arrest lifted last week, but he was not on the latest depth chart, which leaves his status for Saturday’s game against North Carolina unclear.
"He's got work to do," Swinney smiled and chuckled in response to a question about Burley's conditioning. "He's got work to do, but he's working."
Swinney also addressed why Burley was allowed back.
"He deserved to come back," Coach said. "I mean, he was stupid, but I'm not gonna kick him off for being stupid.
He's working on his MBA. He's already got his degree."
The coach said Burley accepted responsibility for what happened and was held accountable. Swinney also noted that the senior has been dealing with other difficult circumstances away from football, and that the program is trying to help him navigate those issues.
Clemson, now 1-1, hosts undefeated North Carolina on Saturday at noon with a chance to build on the defensive step forward it showed against Georgia Southern.
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