Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney highly praised safety Ronan Hanafin, calling him “one of the best football players we’ve got on this team.”

During his Tuesday press conference ahead of Clemson’s game at Cal on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Swinney raved about Hanafin’s characteristics and what he brings to the table for the Tigers, emphasizing that the senior is a “just a really good football player, just pure football player.”

Hanafin is a co-starter at both the rover and free safety positions, and Swinney added that the coaching staff simply can’t play the 6-foot-3, 215-pound veteran enough due to his impact and reliability on the field as a pillar of the secondary.

“Ronan is one of the best football players we have on the team,” Swinney said. “He’s just a really good football player. There’s certain things that he’s got to improve in. Everybody’s got some strengths and everybody’s got some weaknesses. But just pure football player – Ronan, he’s definitely one of the best football players we’ve got on this team.

“This kid is tough. He can run. He’s physical. He loves to practice. He loves to prepare. He’s got great energy. He’s got big-time football character. He studies the game, and his growth has been tremendous. He plays special teams. Like, you can’t play Ronan enough. He just loves to play the game.”

Hanafin put together a strong performance in Clemson’s 28-20 comeback victory over North Carolina last Saturday, posting seven tackles.

Playing alongside guys like Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter III in the Tigers’ secondary, Hanafin tallied eight tackles (0.5 for loss) in the season opener at LSU before adding five tackles (one for loss) with his first career sack in the following contest vs. Georgia Southern. He has played 164 defensive snaps so far this season and currently ranks fifth on the team with 20 total tackles.

“That’s been a real constant,” Swinney added of Hanafin. “He and Jerome and Myrick – those three guys have really done a great job playing together, and a lot of times they’re on the field together. Most of the game last week, they were on the field together.”

Hanafin’s journey at Clemson has been a testament to his versatility and work ethic, earning consistent admiration from Swinney. The hard-hitting DB has experienced a lot of growth since making the move from wide receiver after his freshman season.

A former four-star prospect per multiple recruiting services, Hanafin contributed in a variety of ways at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Massachusetts, beginning his prep career at cornerback but playing receiver and linebacker/safety for most of his career along with returning punts.

As a true freshman for the Tigers in 2023, Hanafin played 41 offensive snaps over 11 games. Then in 2024, after making the transition to defense, he finished the year with 13 tackles and a pass breakup in 89 defensive snaps across 14 games.

Last year, he saw by far his most extensive playing time as a Tiger, logging 517 defensive snaps over 13 games (five starts). He was very productive while racking up 72 tackles, third-most on the team, with one tackle for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Hanafin, who can play a fifth season for Clemson thanks to the NCAA’s new age-based “five-for-five” eligibility rules, has also historically been one of the Tigers’ top tacklers on special teams.

“Really proud of Ronan,” Swinney said. “And he’s got another year. His growth and his development has been tremendous. And as his confidence has grown, you just see the natural football stuff that you love about a kid like that. Because he plays the game the way you want everybody to play it.”

One major area of growth for Hanafin has been his ability to bounce back from a mistake, put it behind him and move on to the next play.

“He’ll make a mistake, but man, he’s coming right back,” Swinney said. “And I think that’s the biggest area he’s grown, is in the past, he would make a mistake and it would kind of just haunt him. Because he cares so much. But he’s been able to just come right back, and I think that’s a real sign in his development.”