COLUMBIA, S.C. — There is something about a Clemson safety stealing the show in the Clemson-Carolina Game.
In 1980, Willie Underwood snagged two South Carolina passes, including one he returned 37 yards for a touchdown in a win that propelled the Tigers to the 1981 National Championship.
In 1997, Antwan Edwards grabbed two interceptions as well, including a 42-yard TD return in a 47-21 victory over the Gamecocks.
Ricardo Jones’ name has now been added to that short list. The Clemson safety picked off USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers on two separate occasions – one to prevent a South Carolina touchdown and another he returned 12 yards for a TD, as the Tigers beat the Gamecocks, 28-14, Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
“He is an instinctive player,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “That is the one thing about him. He loves to practice, he loves to play, he loves his teammates, he is tough as they come and he knows his limitations.
“He is a very smart and instinctive player.”
Jones’ instincts allowed him to grab a third-quarter interception that preserved the Tigers’ lead at the time. Sellers was looking for wide receiver Nyck Harbor in the end zone with 13 seconds to play in the third quarter, when Jones dove in front of the pass and got his hands under the ball to secure the catch.
Replay upheld the call on the field, and Clemson (7-5) stopped a potential scoring drive thanks to Jones’ heroics.
“That was an incredible interception,” Swinney said. “I mean his hands were under the ball, it was incredible. So, I am just really happy for him.”
On Jones, 12-yard TD return, South Carolina (4-8) had the ball backed up to its 5-yard line with 3:27 to play, as quarterback LaNorris Sellers tried to get the ball to Harbor, but cornerback Ashton Hampton tipped the ball into the air and Jones snagged it and then zig zagged his way into the end zone.
“That is a tipped ball,” Swinney said. “We get a ball batted up in the air. Tips are picks. We have been trying to score. We have a streak around here where we have scored twice on defense (since 2007).
“So now we have a chance to keep that going in the postseason. I am proud of Ricardo. He has done a nice job.”
Jones’ two picks on Saturday, gives him six for the season, which is tied for the national lead. Now he has a spot at the table among some of the greats in Clemson history in regard to the Clemson-Carolina series.
“I was just reading the quarterbacks eyes,” Jones said. “I am the post player. So, I am supposed to play with vision, look at the QB and read his eyes. I kind of saw him staring (Harbor) a little bit, so I was just trying to get over the top and make a play.”
And he made plenty of them on Saturday, including two that will live in Clemson-Carolina lore for years to come.
“In my head, I am going to go get it,” Jones said. “That’s my ball. When it is in the air, I feel like that is mine. That is my mindset every time.”