When the news broke that veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader decided to take a break from football due to some very personal issues, the first instinct head coach Dabo Swinney and Reader’s teammates had was to reach out to him with support.
“We’re here to support our players. It’s just that simple. I’ve always said I’d rather lose trying to do things right than to win not doing it right,” Swinney said following Tuesday’s practice.
As a senior, Reader has formed a lot of close friendships with his fellow Tigers since he first joined the team. Fellow defensive lineman Kevin Dodd expressed his support for Reader and his decision, but he also knows the team needs to continue to move forward.
“At this point, we have no choice but to go forward, but I love D.J. I love him like a brother. I will encourage him throughout his situation,” Dodd said.
Swinney hopes Reader will rejoin the team at some point during the season, but the status of his situation is still unknown. All the team can do now is move on and prepare for the Wofford game.
“In this program we preach that the next man is up. That’s what we truly believe in,” Dodd said. “I really feel confident in those guys. I think we can get the job done.”
Clemson still has senior Roderick Byers, sophomore Scott Pagano and freshman Christian Wilkins as well redshirt freshman Jabril Robinson. They will now get the opportunity to battle it out in practice for the leading role, but Dodd said he could not really pick a front-runner to replace Reader.
“Coach (Dan) Brooks, he rotates more than any other defensive coach there is,” Dodd said. “I really can’t tell who is in the inside even before this happened with D.J.”
Dodd says he has faith in Pagano after working out with him in the summer months, but he also knows that Byers has a lot of knowledge of the system and he hopes he gets the chance to show that. He also loves what he sees out of Wilkins.
“They play at a high level, and Christian, he doesn’t play like a freshman. He plays with some intensity and a passion for the game. I really feel confident in those guys in what they’re going to bring to the table,” he said.
As an upperclassman on the defensive line, Dodd knows it is his responsibility to help mentor some of the younger members as they make the quick transition from backups to potential starters.
“I tell those guys, ‘Everyday could be your day. Take every rep personal and this should be your spot, it could be your spot easily. My spot could be your spot so just keep fighting,’” Dodd said.
With Reader’s absence, Dodd knows he needs to work even harder to improve himself so that he can help the defense can accomplish their goals as a unit.
“With D.J. or without I’ve got a job to do and I’ve got some things to prove. I need to make a name for myself,” he said. “We’ve got a dream that we’re trying to accomplish.”
But for now, the Tigers are just trying to take it one day at a time by focusing on their game prep for Wofford.
“Next week, we just want to focus on Wofford and the task we’ve got at hand. We just want to play the game and have no distractions. We’re basically going to handle the situation, put our arms around D.J. and encourage him and move on,” Dodd said.