Vic Burley is starting to rediscover his rhythm, and Charleston Southern gave him a moment he’ll remember.
The Clemson defensive tackle powered through a blocker, finished off the quarterback seconds later and celebrated the first sack of his career with a roar. For Burley, it was more than a splash play. It was a sign that he’s beginning to feel like himself again.
“It felt good,” Burley said with a smile. “I mean, obviously that was my first sack in my four years being here. So it was a big accomplishment for me.”
That kind of play has not come easily this season. Burley was arrested for disorderly conduct weeks before the 2026 season began and served a multi-game suspension that sidelined him for the LSU and Georgia Southern games. He came back for the ACC opener against North Carolina and made an immediate impact, recovering a fumble in Clemson’s comeback win.
Even after his return, getting back into a steady groove has taken time. Against Charleston Southern, though, he got the chance to stay on the field and make the most of it.
“I mean, it felt great, just coming back, happy to be back,” Burley said. “So yeah, I'll take whatever they give me, just continue to work.”
Burley also sees the bigger picture. He expects Clemson’s side of the ball to overwhelm opponents, and he believes this game was a preview of what the team should look like over the rest of the season.
“Of course, I mean, but to be expected, we're supposed to dominate every other game, well, every game,” Burley said. “This is the first game up for the rest of the season, around six weeks. Well, the next six weeks will be straight domination from here on out.”
For Burley, the stop-and-start path back has changed the way he views the sport. Sitting out forced him to watch the game he loves from the outside, and that made the return feel even more meaningful.
“I learned not to take things for granted,” Burley said. “I mean, I didn't really take it for granted, but just watching the game that I love being stripped away from me and not being able to do it, it just gives you a new appreciation for the game.”
The season began with a setback, but Burley says performances like Saturday’s are helping him move forward. He says he’s grateful for the second chance from Dabo Swinney and the support from his teammates as he keeps rebuilding.
“This year I've had some downs,” Burley said. “I had a very big down that I'm not proud of, but then again, I wanna give thanks to Coach Swinney for giving me another opportunity to come back to the team. I wanna thank the team for accepting me back, allowing me to be myself again, and continuing to work and get better.”
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