On Senior Day against The Citadel on Nov. 23, among the Clemson players who came down the hill during the pregame ceremony at Death Valley was starting defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart.
So has Capehart made a decision about his plans for next year?
The graduate senior was asked that question when he met with the media on Wednesday and said he isn’t thinking about that at this point, as the 17th-ranked Tigers get ready to take on No. 8 SMU in Saturday’s ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (8 p.m., ABC).
“Right now I’m focused on the ACC Championship and trying to finish as hard as we can,” Capehart said.
While Capehart went down the hill on Senior Day, he didn’t play in the game against The Citadel due to injury.
Prior to returning to action in last Saturday’s game against South Carolina and logging seven defensive snaps, Capehart missed the previous three games after going down with an injury against Louisville on Nov. 2.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder said he “made a lot of progress” in his recovery between Senior Day and the South Carolina game to be able to play against the Gamecocks.
“It’s all mental,” Capehart said. “You’ve just got to be tough. Of course, you don’t wanna remember your last game in The Valley being on the sideline.”
Capehart has started six of the nine games he’s played in this season, posting 20 total tackles (one for loss), two pass breakups and three quarterback pressures.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday it was “good to get (Capehart) back” in the South Carolina game, but “he’s not 100 percent.”
“I’m still working. I wouldn’t say I’m worried about my health,” Capehart said. “I’m just trying to finish strong, man, just being there for my teammates when they need me.”