Pennington’s Defense Debut | Clemson Tigers Football News

Clemson Tigers Football Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 9, 2026 · 1m

Clemson’s defense just got a giant upgrade: sixth-year offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington is now a defensive tackle, and he’s making an immediate impact. At 6’5” and 355 pounds, he’s the biggest player on the team and was originally recruited for defense. In his first real snaps against LSU, he shut down running lanes and earned more playing time for the next game. Coach Eason called him a “Swiss army knife” — his offensive background gives him a unique edge, letting him anticipate plays before they happen. With three starting defensive tackles sidelined and Vic Burley returning in Week 3…