CLEMSON – One current player on Clemson’s 2026 roster has scored against rival South Carolina.

However, that player has yet to play a single down for the Tigers.

Who is this player?

It’s defensive tackle Markus Strong, of course.

Strong transferred in the winter from Oklahoma, but he has already made his mark on Clemson’s fiercest rival, forcing a safety in the Sooners’ 26-7 win over the Gamecocks last October.

“I wanted to play more, but getting in that South Carolina game, it was like that I wanted to make my statement and I got the opportunity,” Strong said back in March. “Coach (Todd) Bates put me in. So, I just know they were down in one, one or two, something like that. Quick play and it was like my eyes lit up, felt good, safety.”

The news of Strong’s stifling play spread through the Allen Reeves Football Complex upon his commitment to the Tigers on Jan 7. Before Strong was educated about any of the history between South Carolina’s state-funded institutions, he was already approached in the Upstate about the safety.

“Coming in (to Clemson), I saw something or somebody might have told me like, ‘Yeah, I love this kid. He’s already scored points versus South Carolina,’” he said with a laugh. “So, I was like, okay, yeah, I mess with this.”

As Strong walked the halls of Clemson’s facility in the first few weeks of joining head coach Dabo Swinney’s squad, he passed by pictures of historic wars between the Tigers and Gamecocks, along with a trophy that is traded back and forth between the programs with each win.

With Clemson’s 28-14 win over South Carolina last November, the prize was firmly minted in Strong’s line of vision each day during the spring.

“When I first got here I was looking, I was like, ‘It’s that big of a rivalry?’” Strong said. “And yeah. It’s the last game of the season. It’s not a far travel, but when we get down there or when they come here, it’s definitely war. Like it’s time to get to it. So, I enjoy that.”

While Strong will experience his first matchup between the Tigers and Gamecocks this November, when Clemson will host the yearly clash at Memorial Stadium on Nov 28, he does have previous experience with heated rivalry games, with three installments of the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas under his belt. 

The redshirt junior was a part of a Sooners’ win his freshman year, and two losses in the following contests. Last October, he notched his third tackle of the season against the Longhorns in a 23-6 loss in Dallas, Texas. Strong finished with 10 total tackles (four for loss) in 14 games at Oklahoma, backing up three All-SEC defensive linemen.

The Raiford, Fla., native believes his experience, both in big rivalry games and in going through the grind of a season three times, has helped him transition easily into Tom Allen’s defense and the speed of practices at Clemson.

“I definitely say (I bring) more depth, (to the D-line) helping them with just overall football knowledge,” Strong said. “I feel like coming in from being an older guy, the game has slowed down for me. So like guys like (freshman) Kam Cody, I can slow it down for him. Just kind of teach him what to expect if you get this formation and things like that.” 

Early in the spring, Allen already noticed the leadership from Strong, who is still just 19 years old, despite entering his fourth season of college football.

“Markus, he’s just a big man,” Allen said. “He’s broad shouldered. He’s mature. He’s got confidence. He was recognized by our strength staff immediately as a leader in that weight room, and that’s what we needed because it’s a room full of a bunch of younger guys that haven’t really proven themselves yet.”

Despite not getting the playing time that other transfers like safeties Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter III, or running back Chris Johnson Jr., had, Strong’s development under Sooners’ coach– and former Clemson defensive coordinator– Brent Venables was obvious upon his arrival at Clemson.

At 295 pounds, Strong stands as one of the biggest defensive linemen on the Tigers’ roster, another testament to strength training. However, his athleticism is what stood out most to Allen in the early days of practice..

“You got Markus, who hasn’t played near as much football as some of these other guys have, but coming from an elite program,” Allen said. “He is a very physical player, he’s a way better athlete than I thought, and it’s showed up already in the first four days.”

Strong and the Tigers still have almost an entire six months before they get to play in another rivalry game, and nearly four until Clemson opens its 2026 season against LSU on Sept 5.

In the meantime, Strong can look at Clemson’s Palmetto Trophy on his way to encourage younger players in the weight room each day this summer.