Former Clemson star defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence had to catch his breath after providing one of the highlights of the New York Giants’ 21-18 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday.

Lawrence, also known by the nickname “Sexy Dexy,” almost had a “thicc six” against the Chargers, as he nearly got himself a big man touchdown in Week 4 of the NFL season.

Lawrence, now in his seventh season with the Giants, came up with his first career interception late in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

The 6-foot-4, 340-pounder came close to taking the interception back for a touchdown, returning it 37 yards before being brought down at the 3-yard line by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

“I tell everybody I’m the fastest,” said a smiling Lawrence, who showed off his wheels on the interception return, hitting 17.35 miles per hour, according to Next Gen Stats.

How close did Lawrence think he was going to get to the goal line after he nabbed the interception and started running it back, before he was ultimately stopped shy of a touchdown by Herbert?

“I thought I was going to score,” he said. “I knew he was going to go low. But I couldn’t catch my feet quick enough. But yeah, and then I just went down.”

Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler, was asked if his fellow Giants defensive linemen gave him a good deal of ribbing after he got tripped up at the 3.

“Nah, I needed to catch some wind,” he said, laughing.

Last season, Lawrence earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod, becoming the first Giants player to be voted to three straight Pro Bowls since safety Landon Collins from 2016-18. If Lawrence hadn’t suffered a season-ending elbow injury, he could have very well earned his third consecutive AP All-Pro selection as well.

Entering this season, the 27-year-old Lawrence had racked up 310 total tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 30 sacks in 92 career games (85 starts) since being selected by the Giants in the first round (17th overall) of the 2019 draft.

–Photo courtesy Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images