Four years after Power Rangers, Clemson’s defensive line creates new, heroic identity
For years, Clemson’s Power Rangers terrorized opposing offensive lines.
Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant combined forces to set new school records and win two national championships for what’s considered one of the best defensive lines in school history.
Then, they moved on to the NFL, leaving the Tigers in search of its next group of heroic defensive linemen.
Clemson stayed among the top defenses in the country in the following years, but none had the same buzz as a collective for the next three years. The 2021 group’s campaign was marred by injuries, rendering the Tigers D-line group unable to show its true abilities … until now.
On the evening of March 2, after Clemson’s first spring practice of the season, a group of Tigers defensive linemen publicized the rise of a new supergroup.
“AVENGERS ASSEMBLE,” tweeted defensive end KJ Henry, echoing Captain America’s famous call to action.
From there, each Clemson defensive lineman revealed his Marvel character in the form of gifs.
Xavier Thomas emerged as Thor, Bryan Bresee took his place as the Hulk and Tyler Davis virtually suited up as Iron Man. Myles Murphy tweeted his Spider-Man gif, and Ruke Orhorhoro (Black Panther), Justin Mascoll (Doctor Strange), Tre Williams (Hawkeye) and Etinosa Reuben (Falcon) rounded out the Marvel crew.
“We were going to make Payton (Page) Ant-Man just because he’s the smallest guy,” Orhorhoro said with a sly smile.
Davis added, “And Cuddie (Damonte Capehart) War Machine.”
The merging of Clemson and the Marvel universe is the brainchild of Henry and Thomas, both of whom opted to come back to the program for another year — much like the Avengers’ post-”Infinity War” reunion that ultimately led to their victory.
Henry and Thomas weren’t officially part of the Power Rangers, but they were on the team with the quartet and followed their example.
“They showed us the ropes and now we know how to fight all crime,” Henry said. “We know how to do it the right way.”
Having returned the whole defensive line group this season with all expected to be healthy by the fall, it was time to embrace their superhero sides.
Each Tiger chose a Marvel character that they relate to the most. Murphy shares the same name as Miles Morales from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” though Davis is quick to point out that Murphy’s agility as a player gives him another commonality with the friendly neighborhood arachnid.
Orhorhoro is the Urhobo tribe, located in southern Nigeria where he was born, and felt a connection to Black Panther, who is from Wakanda, a fictitious country in Africa.
Other names are directly correlated to each player’s style of play.
Bresee, for one, takes on another personality when he steps onto the field. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound redshirt sophomore’s “Hulk smash” mindset allowed him to become Clemson’s second-ever ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. A year later, he had 15 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in four games last year before an ACL injury forced him into life as Bruce Banner for the rest of the year.
Thomas is a natural on-field Thor, who happens to be his favorite Marvel character. It’s a fitting match, considering Thomas’ thunderous, quick attack coming off the edge, allowing him a team-best 17 quarterback pressures, along with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss last year. Much like Thor had moments of weakness and suffered low points, Thomas had his own struggles during his college career — sans losing an eye — but has rebounded with hopes of having a lightning-bright final season.
“Last year, I was coming off that terrible ‘20 year, and I was overweight. Now, I have a whole different confidence level in regards to what I want to do. Basically, I know everything I need to do and everything planned out. Just gotta go get it,” Thomas said. “Definitely a double-digit sack year this year. … It’s a whole list (of goals), but that’s my main thing.”
The lighthearted fun of taking on the superhero personas is a creative way for the Tigers’ defensive linemen to create an even stronger bond and separate themselves from past lines. With expectations still looming of a big year, the group is ready to bring their characters together for one last season — or battle — with the endgame of greatness in mind.
“It just gives us a vision, like, just gives us our own identity because everybody was trying to make us from back then,” Thomas said in reference to the Power Rangers. “But really, just gives us our own identity and just knowing that we can really be one of the best to ever do it here.”
The Clemson defense’s Avengers
KJ Henry, defensive end: Captain America
Xavier Thomas, defensive end: Thor
Bryan Bresee, defensive tackle: Hulk
Tyler Davis, defensive tackle: Iron Man
Myles Murphy, defensive end: Spider-Man
Ruke Orhorhoro, defensive tackle: Black Panther
Justin Mascoll, defensive end: Doctor Strange
Tre Williams, defensive tackle: Hawkeye
Etinosa Reuben, defensive tackle: Falcon
Honorable mention Avengers
Payton Page, defensive tackle: Ant-Man
Demonte Capehart, defensive tackle: War Machine
Clemson spring game
- When: 1 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
- TV/stream: ACC Network/ESPN app
- Going to the game? Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
