Despite the Tigers 8-2 record, Dabo Swinney has been adamant that his Clemson team has yet to play its best game.

That is especially true for the defense, with veteran linebacker Barrett Carter echoing the head coach’s sentiments.

“Coach Swinney is spot on, we have not played our best game at all,” Carter said. “We have shown flashes of it in bits and pieces but he knows what we can do. I know what we can do and we are nowhere close to playing our best ball yet.”

To this point, the play on the defensive side of the ball has seen its share of inconsistencies. It’s best game was arguably the 24-14 road win over Virginia Tech on November 9. Clemson held the Hokies high-powered rushing attack to just 1.9 yards per carry and allowed just one touchdown in the victory.

Last week in the 24-20 win over Pitt, the Tigers allowed 239 passing yards in the second half to backup quarterback Nate Yarnell. However, when the team needed a play from its defense, Khalil Barnes stepped up and picked off a Yarnell pass on the last play of the game to secure the win.

“Fortunately, we still have time to prove that or to showcase that,” Carter added. “We just have to clean up the little stuff. We can’t get tired of doing the little stuff because that is what it’s going to come down to.”

With two games left in the regular season, including the matchup with in-state rival South Carolina, Carter insists there is still time for this defense to put its best foot forward. And that starts on Saturday, when the Tigers welcome in-state FCS foe Citadel to town.

“Yeah, coach Swinney is right, he is so right about that,” Carter said. “And we all know it too. We see it. We will show flashes of it sometimes, but just have not put together a four quarter game yet, but we still have time to do that.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!