Discipline is love, says Dabo, who wants Clemson’s top DB ‘accountable in every area’
Derion Kendrick is Clemson’s top cornerback from a talent standpoint, but the junior hasn’t been on the field much through the first two weeks of the season.
Kendrick, who was a preseason All-ACC selection, did not play in Week 1 against Wake Forest for an undisclosed reason, and he didn’t start on Saturday against The Citadel for discipline, Dabo Swinney confirmed after the game.
Kendrick did resume his spot at cornerback on the second play of the game against The Citadel, but he was put back on the sideline late in the first half after getting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Tigers 49-0 victory. TV cameras captured Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables giving Kendrick an earful after the penalty, and Swinney said afterward it was a mistake that shouldn’t have been made.
“Just can’t happen,” Swinney said.
While Kendrick is Clemson’s most talented cornerback, the Tigers are deep at the position. Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed has plenty of options, making it easy to call upon another guy if one player isn’t doing what he is supposed to. On Saturday the Tigers started sophomores Andrew Booth and Sheridan Jones., with Kendrick coming off the bench.
“He just didn’t start the game,” Swinney said of Kendrick. “Mike’s got a lot of competition in his room, too. Obviously DK is as good a player as there is out there. I wouldn’t call it discipline. I would call it a little bit of love. Just loving him up. I think discipline is the greatest form of love and Mike does a great job with those guys.”
Clemson has easily handled its first two opponents, jumping out to big leads against overmatched Wake Forest and The Citadel teams. But Clemson will need Kendrick on the field as the season goes along and the games get tougher.
That means the Rock Hill native must make smart decisions moving forward, on and off the field.
“DK’s a great kid, but we want him to be accountable in every area,” Swinney said. “Academics, tutors, study hall. You name it. All of it. It all matters. He got himself in a little bit of a hole this summer, but he’s dug himself out. He’s coming on, but we can’t have mistakes like that.”
Next Clemson football game
Who: Clemson vs. Virginia
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson
When: Oct. 3, time TBD
TV: TBD
