Clemson pass rusher KJ Henry embraces higher standards from fans following 2021 season

The Clemson Tigers are no stranger to having higher standards placed upon them by fans and the media according to pass rusher KJ Henry. Henry spoke at ACC media days about how Tigers coach Dabo Swinney joked with his team that they were going to help him pack his bags and move after winning ten games last season — claiming that ten-wins wasn’t enough to keep his job for long with the expectations his team faces.

KJ Henry on Clemson fan expectations

Henry was asked about the fan and media calling their 2021 season a “down year” for the school during his media appearance. The fifth-year Clemson star explained that from their perspective, the seemingly unfair expectations are a good thing. Henry was told that Clemson was one of just two ACC schools to win their bowl game last year — while finishing with a ten-win season.

“That’s awesome. I love that, honestly,” said Henry about fans calling it a down year. “Like Coach Swinney said, we were about to help him pack. He was about to get fired for only winning ten games last year, but like I’ve been saying all day, it’s been awesome that that’s the standard we have for this program, that all the success we’ve had over the years has come to a point that now if we win ten games, that’s unacceptable. I don’t want that to change.

“I love what we were able to do last season with so much adversity that hit, and every game is important. Especially the last game of the season playing for a bowl. No matter what it is, it’s another one we get to hang up and say that we’re victorious in, and we took that very seriously. We were glad to get the win in the Cheez-It Bowl.”

Henry finished last year with four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a pass rushing threat for the Clemson defense. Over his four-year career with the Tigers he has 88 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, five pass breakups and three fumble recoveries across 44 games and 10 starts.