Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence to miss bowl: ‘I honestly don’t know what happened’

Dexter Lawrence held out hope that he would be able to play in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, but it was announced Thursday evening that the Clemson standout will miss the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame.

The junior defensive lineman earlier Thursday said he is “at peace” no matter the decision after learning last week that he failed a drug test. Lawrence insisted that he did not knowingly take an illegal substance and said he has no idea how it got into his system.

“I don’t know where it came from, how it got there,” Lawrence said. “I was raised different. If I did do it, I’d own up to it, but all I can say is I honestly don’t know what happened or how it got in. It’s just there. There’s nothing I can really do about it.”

Lawrence spoke with the media about eight hours before the news came down that he, tight end Braden Galloway and offensive lineman Zach Giella will miss the matchup against Notre Dame after failing drug tests.

All three players had a trace of ostarine — a banned substance — in their systems, according to Clemson. Suspensions were made official Thursday night.

“This evening, Clemson Athletics received confirmation from the NCAA of suspensions for tight end Braden Galloway, offensive lineman Zach Giella and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, all three of whom will be unavailable for Saturday’s game against Notre Dame,” Clemson Athletics Director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. “The athletic department will have no further comment on the matter this evening as it considers all of our options, including appeals.”

Lawrence is a big loss for the Tigers. The junior defensive tackle is a three-time All-ACC performer and was named first-team All-ACC each of the past two years. He had 44 tackles this season with 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The North Carolina native also leads Clemson with 15 quarterback pressures.

Lawrence has started all 13 games this season and is likely to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Senior defensive tackle Albert Huggins is expected to take his spot in Clemson’s starting lineup.

Galloway and Giella are lesser known players, but they have also contributed throughout the 2018 season. Galloway, a freshman, has played in 12 of Clemson’s 13 games and has five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Giella, a junior, has played in 11 of Clemson’s 13 games this season.

The players are expected to appeal to try to gain eligibility before the national title game or for the 2019 season. Lawrence is expected to turn pro, but Galloway and Giella are now facing a year-long suspension.

Lawrence was back home visiting a friend in North Carolina last week when he received a phone call from Dabo Swinney. Clemson’s head coach did not sound like his normal self when Lawrence answered the phone.

Swinney then asked Lawrence if he had taken an illegal substance. The junior’s first reaction was shock.

“I was looking at my phone like, ‘Are you crazy? What’s wrong with you for asking something like that?’ The next thing you know he tells me I tested positive for something I’ve never heard of or know where to get it,” Lawrence said. “I can say I’m not the type of guy to do a selfish act like that. I have too much pride. I love this team and my family too much to even think about putting a substance like that in my body.

Lawrence, Galloway and Giella do not hang out much, according to Lawrence, but they do share one similarity: Their lockers are in the same area.

“That’s about all. We don’t really hang around each other that much,” he said.

Lawrence had not hired legal counsel as of Thursday morning but was prepared to do so.

“I have a guy who’s guiding me, just giving me some knowledge about everything,” Lawrence said, adding that he has been racking his brain to try to find out how the substance could have gotten into his body.

“I stick to a strict routine. Nothing has changed. I’m confused. I’m mind boggled. I just honestly don’t know,” he said. “Just doing research, just trying to find out what I’ve done differently or what I’ve drank differently or something like that.”

Lawrence was offered a choice of whether or not he wanted to attend Media Day for the Cotton Bowl on Thursday, and he chose to come and answer questions from dozens of reporters about the topic. Giella and Galloway did not attend the media availability.

“I just wanted to come because I consider myself a leader and I just wanted the guys to know I’ve got their back just like they’ve got mine,” Lawrence said.

According to the Banned Substances Control Group, ostarine was “developed in the mid 2000s to help combat bone and muscle wasting in people suffering from a range of debilitating diseases and aging but is still being clinically researched and is not yet an approved drug. Ostarine is designed to activate the androgen receptor in a similar fashion to anabolic steroids. Because it produces strength gains similar to those of anabolic steroids without unpopular androgenic side effects, the drug has become a prevalent steroid alternative for bodybuilders and athletes.”

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This story was originally published December 27, 2018 at 9:38 AM.