Ronan Hanafin’s Breakout: Former Wideout Provides Defensive Spark vs. LSU
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Clemson’s 17–10 loss to LSU on Saturday night was filled with frustration on the offensive side, but one defensive performance stood out. Junior defensive back Ronan Hanafin, a converted wide receiver from Burlington, Mass., looked every bit like a seasoned playmaker. He led the Tigers with 12 tackles and forced a turnover with a textbook punch-out in the second half.
“That’s one of those things that we drill every single day in practice,” Hanafin said. “Just getting the ball out and punching at the ball whenever we can. We didn’t hit our takeaway goal today. The goal is three, so we hit two, we’re just gonna work on that and get three next week.”
That forced fumble was more than just a highlight—it embodied what Dabo Swinney has been asking of his defense.
“I thought Ronan was a real bright spot—fast, physical, plays violent, knocks the ball loose,” Swinney said on his Sunday teleconference. “That was a big-time game for him to grow. Top-10 opponent, and for him to come out of that game confident will bode well.”
For Hanafin, the confidence was evident in how he approached the game from start to finish. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he matched LSU’s physicality while flying sideline to sideline. Coaches have praised his violent playing style, and against the Tigers, it was on full display.
Even as LSU’s offense tried to create mismatches with quick screens and perimeter throws, Hanafin’s presence helped Clemson limit explosive gains. His 12 stops weren’t empty numbers—they came in critical moments when Clemson’s defense needed to get off the field. Swinney noted that outside of one early run, LSU averaged just 2.8 yards per carry over the final 58 minutes, a testament to how defenders like Hanafin controlled the game’s physical edge.
Clemson’s defensive identity has long been rooted in forcing turnovers, and Hanafin’s forced fumble kept that standard alive. Last season, the Tigers produced 16 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles. Hanafin added to that tradition with the type of effort that energizes an entire sideline.
“He’s just a very active player,” Swinney said. “He’s going to be around the ball. He’s going to play with relentless effort. He can run. He’s, again, physical. So, he’ll get better. He just needs to play.”
That last point might be the most encouraging. Still relatively new to the defensive side after beginning his career at wide receiver, Hanafin’s rapid development hints at even greater potential. Facing LSU’s top-10 talent in a high-pressure opener, he didn’t just hold his own—he set the tone.
And more than that, in this observer's opinion, he looked like a natural.
The loss to LSU may sting, but Hanafin’s emergence offers a reason for optimism. His ability to blend toughness, discipline, and opportunism is exactly what Clemson’s defense will need in the weeks ahead.
For Hanafin, though, the focus remains on what comes next. “Just keep your head up. There are a lot of guys who had their heads down, but you’ve got to keep your head up and stay positive,” he said.
Clemson may not have left with the result it wanted, but in Hanafin, the Tigers may have found a new piece they can utilize in the secondary all season.
