CLEMSON - Darien Mayo has spent a lot of time as the guy who needs to get lower.
At 6-foot-7, the Clemson defensive end has the kind of frame that turns heads before he ever makes a play. But this offseason, he tried something that might sound more at home in a studio than a football facility: yoga.
“Namaste,” Mayo said with a smile.
For Mayo, the move was less about trendiness and more about survival. He’s expected to take on a bigger role at Clemson, and he knows his size comes with tradeoffs. When you’re trying to battle 300-pound offensive linemen, set the edge and chase quarterbacks, flexibility and body control matter just as much as raw strength.
“With me being so tall, mobility is a big thing,” Mayo said. “Doing extra stretches - shorter guys or maybe people who aren’t as big as me can get away with not stretching as much. But every little thing I have to do is very important for me.
“From mobility to certain stuff like yoga, it’s so important to me.”
Mayo started working yoga into his offseason routine about once a week. That’s harder to keep up once the season starts, but he said the payoff has already shown up in how his body feels and moves. The benefits haven’t been purely physical, either.
“It definitely helps with the mental,” Mayo said. “I’m focusing on my mental also, so all that stuff kind of comes together.”
He admitted there’s still a certain stigma around yoga, especially in football circles. But his mindset changed when he started approaching his preparation like a pro instead of just another college player going through the motions.
“There’s a certain perception on it, but you’ve got to treat yourself as a professional,” Mayo said. “We’re getting paid now, so you’ve really got to treat yourself as a professional and hone in on stuff like that.
“It definitely was like, ‘What is this?’ But it’s definitely going good so far.”
That extra work fits the kind of player Mayo can become. His long frame and reach can make life miserable for offensive tackles, but those same traits demand better pad level, balance and flexibility.
Mayo said strength hasn’t been the main issue for him. The focus this offseason was on mobility, speed and sharpening his pass-rush technique.
The biggest change, though, may have been between his ears.
Mayo said his first two seasons were spent trying to figure out how he could find a role. That’s different now. He enters practices believing he belongs on the field.
“The first two years, I was just kind of like, ‘How can I find a way to play?’” Mayo said.
“But my mentality is to play this year. It’s kind of a different mentality in how I approach the game - studying more, being more focused on what I can do to be a better player.”
His confidence got a boost from the Pinstripe Bowl. Clemson didn’t leave New York with a win, but Mayo came away feeling like he had proven something to himself on a bigger stage.
“That bowl game helped me so much,” he said. “Getting that first big-time game experience - we didn’t come out with a win, but I’m proud of myself for how I did and how I got ready for that game. I felt good about myself.”
That feeling has carried into spring work and now preseason camp, where Mayo is fighting for a larger opportunity. He said the first week of camp was tough but productive, with Clemson’s offense and defense sharpening each other. He also thinks the team looks more dialed in than it did a year ago.
“We just look very focused, honed in and locked in,” Mayo said. “You’re going to see the first game.
We look really good. I can’t wait.”
Mayo will always stand out because of his size. But if his next step comes the way he wants it to, it may be because he learned how to do the little things better - stay balanced, stay loose and stay centered.
For one of Clemson’s tallest players, the road to more snaps might start with bending a little more.
Namaste.
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