In only his second full season as an on-field coach, he has coordinated the nation’s sixth-ranked total defense (273.8 allowed yards per game) … his unit also ranks fifth in the nation in opponent first downs per game (14.3) … produced multiple All-Americans (LBs Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter) at his position group a year ago and has both players in contention for All-America honors again this season … helped Trotter earn ACC Linebacker of the Week, Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, Bednarik Award Player of the Week and Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded a game-high 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and an interception — which he returned 28 yards for a touchdown — in a win vs. No. 12 Notre Dame … helped Trotter become only the fifth FBS player (and second Power Five player) since 2005 to post double-digit tackles, at least 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 or more sacks and a pick-six in a single game … was challenged in the offseason to improve Clemson’s pass defense and has responded by taking the nation’s 76th-ranked pass defense (231.7 yards allowed per game) in 2022 and turning it into the nation’s eighth-ranked pass defense in 2023 (165.3 yards allowed per game).
