CLEMSON – A few common motifs have arisen from head coach Dabo Swinney’s press conferences over the course of Clemson’s rocky 4-5 start this season. One of these common patterns includes Swinney naming certain players as “bright spots,” or “greatly improved.”

In Clemson’s 24-10 win over Florida State on Saturday, redshirt freshman cornerback Corian Gipson proved to be both a bright spot and greatly improved. The Fort Worth, Texas native recorded two pass breakups to shut down the Seminoles’ hopes of chipping into Clemson’s lead. 

After only playing 14 defensive snaps last season, recovering from an ACL tear in his senior year of high school, Gipson has recorded an equal number of tackles and pass breakups (three) in seven games played so far this year. Before coming to Clemson, Gipson was listed as a four-star recruit and the No. 51 player in his class by On3.

Despite a successful high school career, in which he led Lancaster High School to the best defense in the 5A classification in Texas, Gipson’s injury, and a transition to college football, required him to take some time to adjust.

 “He’s a kid that we just really need,” Swinney said. “We needed him to find his confidence a little bit and he’s just getting better and better. He’s playing some nickel for us and he absolutely can because he can run and he’s a competitive kid.”

Swinney is not the only person that has expressed praise for Gipson recently. Junior cornerback Avieon Terrell, recently named a Thorpe Award Semifinalist, spoke about how he has seen Gipson become a “bright spot” in recent weeks.

“I’m proud of Cory (Gipson),” Terrell said. “He’s a dog and he grew a lot. That’s my roommate. We talk every night just about what can be done (to get better). So proud of Cory. He is locked in and you see the growth.”

In the third quarter against Florida State, (4-5, 1-5 ACC) Gipson lived up to the praise from his coach and roommate to 80,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. After Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos completed four consecutive passes for as many first downs to Clemson’s 20-yard line, it appeared that the Tigers’ 18-7 lead was in jeopardy.

Instead of succumbing to ACC’s greatest overall offense to this point, Gipson and Terrell took the defense’s fate into their own hands. Gipson broke up a pass near the end zone, and Terrell followed with a sack to force Florida State to kick a field goal.

“I mean it was a textbook play from a technique standpoint and for him to get his hand on it,” Swinney said. “We can coach off of that… But I thought that was a great play by Gib and it absolutely can do wonders for his confidence as he keeps moving in his career.”

In turn, Seminoles kicker Jake Weinberg missed a 40-yard attempt, allowing Clemson to keep its two-score lead.

Gipson sparked the defense to its sixth stop of the night, and gave Clemson fans a glimpse of who Terrell may be passing the reins to next season.