Clemson is still waiting for Vic Burley to become the player many thought he could be, and Dabo Swinney isn’t hiding his frustration anymore.
Burley’s return to the rotation after his team-issued suspension has not produced the kind of surge Clemson needed up front. He did recover a fumble in his first game back, but Swinney’s latest read on where things stand was blunt.
"We'll see," Swinney said on Burley's overall progress and impact going forward. "Obviously, got way behind from a physical conditioning standpoint while he was out. Not sure he did a whole lot."
That’s a rough assessment for a player Clemson has been hoping would turn into a difference-maker in the trenches. Burley had a disappointing fall camp, then was arrested for disorderly conduct shortly before the season and suspended indefinitely. Now, even after making his way back, he still doesn’t appear close to fully earning back a major role.
There’s a reason this has become such a nagging issue for Clemson. Burley may be the Tigers’ most talented defensive lineman, but his production in a Clemson uniform has never matched the upside.
With Oklahoma transfer Markus Strong out for the season after one game, Burley’s return was sped up out of necessity. Even so, he still can’t be counted on.
That has left Clemson piecing things together along the defensive front. Amare Adams, Andy Burburija, and Champ Thompson have all answered the bell, and they’ve helped hold things steady while Devarrick Woods missed time with an injury last week. But the Tigers’ run defense has still been hit or miss, and Burley’s lack of impact keeps that unit from reaching its ceiling.
Burley is working his way back into the mix and has taken responsibility for his arrest, but the bigger picture hasn’t changed much. Clemson is a third of the way through the season, and the long ramp-up has become part of the problem. This was supposed to be the year he finally took off.
Instead, the attention keeps drifting to other names. Jeremiah Alexander is stepping into that kind of role next to Sammy Brown at linebacker, giving Clemson a boost in an area that needed it. Burley, meanwhile, remains stuck in place while the opportunity in front of him keeps shrinking.
Swinney recruited him expecting a future star on the defensive line. That hasn’t happened yet, and the patience appears to be wearing thin. If a matchup like Miami can’t get Burley moving, Clemson has to wonder what will.
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