Tyler Davis says Clemson must win a championship to have a successful season

It’s championship or bust for Clemson this season according to defensive tackle Tyler Davis. Speaking at ACC Media Day last week, Davis was candid in his expectations for the Tigers in 2023, saying a title “of some sort” would be required for him to consider it a success.

“I would say in my book, yes,” Davis said. “I mean, we come here. That’s one of our goals. We come here to graduate and win a championship and to leave better prepared as a man. I would say yes, to have a successful season, you have to win a championship of some sort.”

That goal shouldn’t be surprising, as Davis first joined the Clemson in 2019 at a time where competing for championships was the norm. The Tigers made six straight College Football Playoff appearances from 2015-20. They reached the title game four times and won twice (2016, 2018).

However, Clemson has failed to reach the CFP in each of the past two seasons. It’s hard to necessarily call those seasons failures, as the Tigers still reached double-digit victories both years. But it might feel like it to some because of the standard coach Dabo Swinney set with those previous championships.

Clemson also claimed six straight ACC Championships from 2015-20 before missing the game entirely in 2021. The Tigers returned to claim their crown this past season, defeating North Carolina 39-10 to win their seventh conference title in the past eight years.

Davis was a part of Clemson’s last national championship appearance as a true freshman in 2019. However, that team ran into Joe Burrow and LSU, dropping that game 42-25. Davis has been hoping to get back ever since and cited that as one of the reasons he opted to return for a fifth year rather than jumping to the NFL.

“I said, why not?” he explained. “Why not have this chance to go win a natty, knowing I got the best linebacker duo and got guys like JP, Sheridan, Nate, Wiggins, RJ Mickens, Andrew Mukuba back there in the secondary, why not just go and have one of the best defense and go win a natty?”

The trio of linebackers Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter plus Davis combined for 17.5 sacks this past season and should again give the Tigers one of the top defenses in the country. Davis even as a chance to become the first four-time All-ACC defensive tackle in Clemson history after earning second team honors as a freshman and first time each of the past two years.

More than those personal accolades, however, he hopes his final year with the team will result in their first championship in five years.