Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Clemson

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. pick-6 gives Clemson big lead vs. Notre Dame

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•11/04/23•

MattConnollyOn3

clemson-linebacker-jeremiah-trotter-on-offsetting-losses-of-myles-muphy-and-trenton-simpson
(Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Clemson had its back against the wall entering Saturday’s game against Notre Dame. The Tigers are responding in a big way so far.

Clemson was already up 17-6 on the Irish in the second quarter when Tigers linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. picked off Irish quarterback Sam Hartman and returned the pass for a touchdown.

The return was for 28 yards and fired up the Death Valley crowd. Clemson entered the game 4-4 but is playing by far its best game of the year early on. You can watch the pick-six here:

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had a huge first half for Clemson, leading the Tigers with 6 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and the big-time interception.

Clemson played well in all three phases in the first half, holding Notre Dame out of the end zone, getting a couple of big punt returns and also recovering a fumble on a punt. The Tigers also didn’t commit a turnover in the first half.

Clemson playing without multiple starters against Notre Dame

Clemson built a nice lead on Notre Dame in the first half, despite being down multiple starters.

Starting running back Will Shipley is out, as is starting offensive lineman Marcus Tate, starting defensive end Justin Mascoll, starting safety Jalyn Phillips and backup safety Sherrod Covil.

Clemson was already without starting receiver Antonio Williams, starting receiver Cole Turner and starting offensive lineman Walker Parks, who all have long-term injuries.

Shipley being out is obviously a big blow, but the Tigers do have another excellent back in Phil Mafah, who enters the game with 439 rushing yards and six scores.

The losses on defense are also big as Clemson is without three of its starting four defensive backs.

Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee address Clemson struggles, Dabo Swinney rant

There is understandably some frustration at Clemson with the way the season is playing out. That led to an upset fan calling the Dabo Swinney call-in show this week and asking what the Tigers head coach has done this year to deserve his $11.5 million salary.

Needless to say, Swinney wasn’t a fan of the question and fired back at the fan with a fiery rant.

The ESPN College GameDay crew discussed what Swinney had to say, as well as what’s going on at the moment at Clemson, on Saturday morning.

“This is obviously unchartered territory for the recent history of the Clemson Tigers, but you’re always going to be a victim of your success, if you have it. Because then expectations are going to be unrealistic,” Pat McAfee said.

“But Dabo’s going to have to get this turned around, because the expectations out of that Clemson Tigers fanbase are always going to be, ‘You’re going to have to win.’ And they don’t look anywhere near where they looked a few years ago.”

Fellow ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit shared what he sees as the biggest problem for Clemson at the moment.

To Herbstreit, it’s one position group in particular that is lacking, compared to past years.

“The one common thing I see – because I still think they play defense – I don’t see the receivers that they had four years ago, five years ago, six years ago,” Herbstreit said. “I’m not even talking about Mike Williams and the guys that go on to the NFL. I’m just talking about really good – Artavis Scott type of guys that make plays. They’ve had some big recruits, but they haven’t hit there in recruiting.”