Clemson defensive tackle accepts Senior Bowl invite

Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro‍ has decided to play in the Senior Bowl. If he plays in the game, his career at the collegiate level is over. Orhorhoro is a graduate but only a redshirt junior and had time remaining to play in Tiger Town.

We spoke with Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, last year, and he told us that even in the NIL era, “If they play in our game, they are in the NFL Draft. No more college games.”

Orhorhoro hasn’t officially made an announcement, but he was honored last month during Senior Day in Death Valley.

According to ClemsonTigers.com:

Enters 2022 credited with 47 tackles (9.5 for loss), 3.0 sacks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 619 career snaps over 27 games (nine starts) … played two snaps on offense in 2021 in Clemson’s jumbo package.

2022: Third-team All-ACC selection by Pro Football Focus … posted 1.5 tackles for loss among his three stops at Georgia Tech … added a sack among his two tackles vs. Furman … recorded a tackle for loss and a pass breakup vs. Louisiana Tech … posted three tackles, a sack and a pass breakup at No. 21 Wake Forest … credited with two tackles vs. No. 10 NC State … contributed a tackle and a pass breakup at Boston College … added three tackles (one for loss) at Florida State … recorded one tackle and two pass breakups — including one on fourth down — vs. No. 14 Syracuse … split a tackle for loss vs. Louisville … added two tackles vs. Miami (Fla.) … recorded a sack on an intentional grounding in the end zone for a Clemson safety vs. South Carolina.

2021: Stepped up in the absence of Bryan Bresee after the fourth game of the season and became a breakout contributor for the Tigers … credited with 42 tackles (8.0 for loss), 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery over 502 snaps in 13 games (nine starts) … named fourth-team all-conference by Phil Steele … made three tackles (0.5 for loss) vs. No. 5 Georgia in his first career start … credited with a team-high six tackles (two for loss) vs. SC State, sharing team defensive player of the game honors … added four tackles (0.5 for loss) vs. Georgia Tech … recorded four tackles and his first career fumble recovery at NC State … contributed two tackles (0.5 for loss) with a half-sack vs. Boston College … recorded four tackles with a half-sack at Syracuse, sharing both team defensive player of the game and team special teams player of the game accolades … made one tackle at No. 23 Pitt … added three tackles (1.5 for loss) with a half-sack vs. Florida State … credited with two tackles and a pass breakup at Louisville … recorded a five-yard sack among his two tackles vs. UConn … made three tackles (one for loss) vs. No. 13 Wake Forest … added six tackles at South Carolina … registered two tackles and a pass breakup vs. Iowa State.

2020: Limited to 33 defensive snaps over four games, qualifying for a medical redshirt after missing most of the season with an injury sustained in season opener at Wake Forest … saw limited action at Virginia Tech, vs. No. 2 Notre Dame and vs. No. 3 Ohio State to close the season … ACC Honor Roll selection.

2019: Credited with five tackles (1.5 for loss including a half-sack) in 84 snaps over nine games … made collegiate debut vs. Georgia Tech … played in wins at Syracuse and vs. Charlotte … made one tackle vs. Boston College … added two tackles (one for loss) vs. Wofford … split a sack vs. Wake Forest … made one tackle at South Carolina.

Before Clemson: Played high school football in Michigan, becoming the first Clemson football signee from the state of Michigan since 1975 (Joe Carolan) … athletic defensive end who played just two years of high school football … ranked as 15th-best overall player in Michigan by 247Sports, 18th-best by Rivals.com and 17th-best in Michigan by ESPN.com … born in Nigeria and came to the United States when he was nine … played basketball as a youth and in high school … averaged a double-double as a sophomore … the week after his sophomore season of basketball ended in the state semifinals, he met with the school’s football coaches and decided to join the team for spring practice … did not play his first football game until the fall of 2017 … had solid 2017 and received some offers from Michigan and Michigan State … as a senior in 2018, had 13 sacks and 22 tackles for loss to go with 60 tackles … scored a touchdown on a fumble return … helped team to an 8-2 season … played his high school football at River Rouge High School for Corey Parker … Clemson recruiters were Brent Venables and Lemanski Hall … has three cousins who played or are still playing college football, Michael Ojemudia (Iowa), Mario Ojemudia (Michigan) and Ovie Oghoufo (Notre Dame) … committed to Clemson on June 15, 2018 … enrolled at Clemson in January 2019.

Personal: Born Oct. 13, 2001 … first name rhymes with juke; last name pronounced Oh-roh-roh-roh … earned degree in sociology in May 2022 … completed microinternships with Synnex in 2019 and Adobe in 2022.