Tigers Today: Mario Goodrich 'perfect example' of growing through adversity

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Mario Goodrich ‘perfect example’ of growing through adversity

Mario Goodrich declared for the NFL Draft on Thursday, making the news official. He did it less than 24 hours after he helped Clemson win the Cheez-It Bowl over Iowa State in Orlando.

A few years ago, it may have been hard to believe Goodrich would ever finish his college career with the Tigers. Without a clear-cut way to find a role in the secondary, the easy move would have been for the cornerback to pack up and enter the transfer portal.

But he did not. Wednesday was the sign he made the right move, too. Goodrich was named the MVP of the Cheez-It Bowl, as he had a pick-six in the third quarter. He sealed the win over the Cyclones, too, stripping Brock Purdy in the final seconds of the game.

His commitment to the Tigers and his maturation through adversity is not lost on Dabo Swinney. The head coach addressed the defensive back’s accomplishments in his postgame press conference.

I’m not a big fan of the easy way out,” Swinney said. “I can just tell you, if it had been around his sophomore year, he’d have been in it. Ain’t no doubt. And he’s a perfect example of – and not that there’s not good, legit reasons from time to time, but he’s a perfect example of what happens when you grow through adversity.

“You know, adversity is good for us and it makes you depend on God. Makes you dig deeper. And the biggest thing in our program, our goals are to graduate our players, to equip them and develop them as men, to have a good experience and win a championship. He’s the epitome of all those things. He’s equipped.”

A former four-star prospect out of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, he played in 12 games this season and finished with 42 tackles and two interceptions. The 6-foot, 190-pound corner will now try to extend his playing career in the NFL.

“College football should be about developing men,” Swinney added. “That’s what I’m passionate about. That’s what I’ve always been passionate about. That’s what I’m going to always be passionate about. This is what coaching is all about to me.”

Five-star Travis Shaw explains why he did not choose Clemson

Clemson is still seeking a defensive lineman to add to its 2022 class. The program has recently extended offers to Christen Miller and Jahiem Lawson, but the Tigers are already out of the mix for Miller.

One defensive lineman who Clemson was in a good position to land is consensus five-star prospect Travis Shaw. Shaw, who had the school in his top three at one point, committed to North Carolina in August and signed with the Tar Heels this month.

Shaw spoke with Clemson Sports on Thursday after the second practice of Under Armour All-American week about what went wrong with the Tigers.

READ: Five-star Travis Shaw explains why he did not choose Clemson

What first game as Clemson DC was like for Wes Goodwin

New Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin wasn’t exactly sure how he would feel on the sideline during his first opportunity to be the guy running the Tigers defense.

The newly turned 37-year-old Goodwin grew up wanting nothing more than to be a Power 5 or NFL defensive coordinator, calling it “tops on my bucket list.” Now, after Brent Venables left to be the head coach at Oklahoma, he was getting his first shot.

There was a lot of pressure on Goodwin to keep Clemson’s elite defense playing at an elite level in Wednesday’s Cheez-It Bowl against Iowa State. But the longtime analyst felt none of it as his unit led the way in Clemson’s 20-13 win. The Tigers allowed only 270 yards of offense and one touchdown while clinching a 10-win season for the 11th straight year.

For more on Goodwin’s debut as defensive coordinator, click here.