Ricardo Jones’ Growth Shines Through as Unlikely Interception Sparks Clemson Rally

Sometimes a season turns on the most unlikely of plays. For Clemson on Saturday, it was sophomore safety Ricardo Jones snatching an interception that first bounced off a teammate’s backside.

The play came at a critical juncture. Clemson, once down 16-0, had trimmed Troy’s lead to 16-10 in the third quarter following an Adam Randall touchdown run. On the Trojans’ next drive, a pass deflected off Ashton Hampton’s backside as he hit the ground, then off a Troy receiver, before popping up just a bit into the air. Jones pounced, corralling it at the Troy 26.

“I was just running to the ball, like Coach Allen always preaches,” Jones said. “Then it bounced off his behind. You know, I said, being a football player, I just picked the ball, got the interception.”

One play later, Cade Klubnik hit Bryant Wesco Jr. on a 26-yard strike down the sideline for the game-tying touchdown. Suddenly, Death Valley was rocking, and Clemson was rolling.

“It definitely gave us a big confidence boost,” Jones said. “Momentum was on our side. The crowd kind of got into it — that definitely woke the crowd up.”

Clemson’s defense clamped down from there, blanking Troy the rest of the way in a 27-16 comeback win.

Jones finished with seven tackles (five solo) and the interception, second on the team. His pick was part of a three-turnover day for the secondary, with Hampton and fellow safety Ronan Hanafin also recording interceptions.

For Jones, the moment was validation of growth from a freshman who logged just 22 tackles and one interception in 2024 to a sophomore difference-maker.

“Really just the way I watch film,” Jones said when asked about his biggest leap. “Coming out of high school, I knew how to watch film, but not really knowing how to watch film. Right now, it’s more like third down tendencies, looking at receivers, different splits. I’m learning from older guys, T-Bone (Tyler Venables), and I had R.J. Mickens in the secondary last year; he kind of showed me the way.”

Defensive coordinator Tom Allen has drilled the mantra of “three takeaways per game,” and Clemson hit that goal against Troy.

“We get three takeaways a game, we’re giving our offense more chances to go put points up,” Jones said. “That’s our goal every game.”

With conference play looming at Georgia Tech next week, Jones’ unlikely interception may be remembered as the moment that sparked Clemson’s defense into full stride.

“I’ll run through a wall for Coach Allen,” Jones said. “We're just gonna keep getting better each week.”