Due to multiple injuries on Clemson’s interior defensive line — including Devarrick Woods being ruled out for Friday’s game at Cal — junior defensive end Darien Mayo moved inside to log snaps at defensive tackle in that contest.

Following the Tigers’ 24-10 victory over the Golden Bears, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney noted that while he needed to fully review the game tape, Mayo “flashed a few times” while playing on the interior.

Swinney explained that Clemson has a specific package where Mayo plays inside to maximize depth and “get our best people on the field.”

“We’ve got a package where he’s in there a good bit. So yeah, just trying to get our best people on the field,” Swinney said. “So I’ll see the tape, but I thought he flashed a few times.”

 Mayo recorded a tackle and also had a pivotal first-quarter pass breakup on a Cal fourth-and-2, where his length surely helped to force the turnover on downs.

Swinney pointed out that while Mayo made plays, there’s room for growth, too.

“He had one missed tackle in the backfield. I thought he did a nice job of getting penetration and getting back there, he just didn’t make the play,” Swinney said.

Mayo entered the 2026 season credited with six tackles (0.5 for loss) in 95 defensive snaps over 10 career games.

After redshirting his first year at Clemson in 2024 and then tallying two tackles across 62 defensive snaps over seven games last season, Mayo logged one tackle in the 2026 season opener at LSU, added two tackles vs. Georgia Southern and posted three tackles vs. North Carolina.

A former four-star prospect, Mayo was ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the 2024 recruiting class according to multiple outlets.

Swinney praised the 6-foot-7, 270-pound Mayo and his physical upside.

“We love Mayo. Mayo’s a good football player,” Swinney said. “He’s 6-7, he’s a big ole dude. He can do a lot. So yeah, just trying to create some more depth there.”