Out of the Shadows: Payton Page Ready to Shine in Final Season

Clemson's senior defensive tackle, Payton Page, is ready to make his mark in 2024, not just with his physical presence but also with his leadership.

Meeting with the media last week, the Greensboro, North Carolina native discussed his progress and the work he’s put into getting in shape for his final season in a Tiger uniform. Head coach Dabo Swinney recently noted that Page had shed significant weight, which is a testament to his dedication, but Page was quick to clarify the extent of that journey.

“So I got to clear a few things up a little bit,” Page said with a smile. “I was never over 400 pounds. I might have been real close, about 396, 397. I never touched the fours. Overall, though, I know he’s (Swinney’s) proud of me. I'm proud of myself, too. I'm ready to get to work this season.”

Page’s transformation is indeed remarkable. He now weighs in at 307 pounds, a far cry from where he began. But the senior knows that keeping the weight off will be just as crucial as getting it down in the first place. For Page, the key is all about finishing—both in terms of his fitness journey and his final season with Clemson.

“Finish. I got, like, a mindset. I got to finish my last season. It's all I got. Prove myself, what I can do on the next level. I'm trying to finish,” he emphasized.

That focus on finishing isn’t just personal for Page; it’s a mantra for the entire Clemson squad this season. Last year’s strong finish has set the stage for even loftier goals in 2024, and Page is confident in the team’s hunger to achieve them.

“I think, like, last season, we had a really good finish, but this year, we’ve got a whole different goal in mind,” Page noted. “The way we're practicing right now, you can tell everybody wants this money. So, we’ve got to go get this money.”

The defensive line, in particular, has seen some significant changes with the departures of key players like Tyler Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro, and Xavier Thomas to the NFL. Despite the loss of veteran talent, Page believes this year’s group is closer than ever.

“Well, this is the closest I think this team has ever been,” he said. “Even though we might get a little scuffle here and there, that just brings us even tighter. I don't know about me, myself, individually, but I know the D-line brings up the team a lot and brings the energy together.”

Page sees a different identity emerging within the defensive line, one that is younger and perhaps more unified. “I feel like they were closer up front. As a group right now, we're a little younger, so it's like we're a lot closer, in my opinion. We’ve got good vibes.”

As for his personal goals in this final year, Page is eager to step out of the shadows and show what he’s capable of.

“To show what I've been working on for years. I feel like I've been in the shadows for a little bit. So, now it's finally my opportunity to show everybody. So, I'm going to show them.”

So what does he plan to show? Page left it at this: “Shoot, I don't want to say too much, but a dog mindset. That's all I’ve got to say—a dog mindset.”

With coaches Nick Eason and Chris Rumph continuing to give the defensive line energy, Page is excited about the shift to a more player-led unit.

“I feel like they was bringing the volume last year. We was missing the player volume, though. We should be the ones getting people hyped. They shouldn't be getting us hyped at all. This year, we're getting the team hyped a lot more. It's a lot more player-led than coach-led.”

Page’s transformation, both physically and mentally, is a microcosm of what Clemson hopes to achieve this season—a team ready to finish strong, with a dog mindset leading the way.

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