Clemson football: Dabo Swinney comments on Derion Kendrick’s dismissal
By John Buhler
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney addressed why cornerback Derion Kendrick was dismissed.
After starting cornerback Derion Kendrick was dismissed from the Clemson football program over the weekend, head coach Dabo Swinney expounded on why it happened during Monday night’s press conference.
“I’m sure everybody has probably heard the news about DK,” said Swinney. “Really not much to say about that other than he’s no longer with us. Also to say, I love DK. He’s a young man that I always loved as a football player. He’s got a good heart, he’s got a really good heart. He’s never been a disrespectful young man or anything like that. Just sometimes you just need change.”
“Just so thankful I had the opportunity to help him and hopefully make a difference for him these past three years. Thankful for all his contributions to our program and will be pulling for him wherever his next stop is, and will always be here for him.”
2021 would have been Derion Kendrick’s senior season with Clemson
Kendrick decided to come back to school ahead of his senior season to help bolster his 2022 NFL Draft status. Despite being a starter in the defensive backfield and a former five-star recruit out of high school, disciplinary issues were commonplace for him at Clemson. This resulted in him missing some games during his Clemson run. He will be a hot commodity in the transfer portal.
Overall, Clemson is still the presumptive favorite to win the ACC for the seventh year in a row. The Tigers might be able to cakewalk through ACC competition again this year, but face a strong southeastern rival team in Georgia during the first week of the season. Fortunately, Swinney and his team have plenty of time to adjust for Kendrick’s departure before Labor Day Weekend 2021.
Swinney may wish Kendrick the best, but it does not change that he is no longer with the team.
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