Mike Reed Sees Growth in Cornerbacks,'It Finally Started Paying Dividends'
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Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed met with the media on Tuesday, speaking candidly about his group’s progression and the lessons learned through the Tigers’ early-season struggles. Coming off their most complete performance of the year in a 38-10 win over North Carolina, Reed said he finally saw signs that the work was beginning to show.
The Tigers, now 2-3 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, had endured a rocky September, but Saturday’s dominant showing against the Tar Heels brought a sense of renewed belief. The Tigers’ secondary held UNC to just 213 passing yards with no explosive plays — a stark contrast from the issues that plagued them earlier in the season.
“Very clean, things that we’ve been coaching and doing and repetition,” Reed noted, referencing execution.“It finally started paying dividends. Guys start seeing it, start believing in it, and enthusiasm is very infectious. [It] can make things a lot better.”
Reed’s optimism comes after one of the defense’s worst outings in recent memory, the 34-21 loss to Syracuse on Sept. 20, in which the secondary surrendered 279 passing yards and cornerbacks, specifically, two touchdowns.
“I’ll say this, the one thing about football, it’s a great team sport,” Reed stated. “When everyone is not on the same accord, you get exposed. You could have 10 guys doing everything just right, and that one guy not doing what he’s supposed to be doing. The cold hard fact [is] that they’re gonna find that one mistake and they’re gonna exploit it.”
Senior Jeadyn Lukus and sophomore Ashton Hampton were both beaten for scores in that loss and have been inconsistent this season. Reed said he’s demanding but believes in his players’ growth.
“Guys are playing hard. [I] just want them to be more detailed, more consistent,” he said. “I love the work that they’re putting in. They’re putting in extra. The good thing about last weekend is that it makes you appreciate winning. It really does that. You've got to go out every day, and you've got to earn the right to win.”
Reed added that his approach goes beyond the football field for Clemson.
“This is not just helping them for the now moment,” he said. “It’s helping them for when they’re graduating, when they’re fathers, when they’re husbands. So it’s a great teaching moment, and that’s what I love about it.”
If there has been a bright spot in the secondary, it’s been junior Avieon Terrell. The projected early-round 2026 NFL Draft pick has been Clemson’s most consistent defensive back, tallying six tackles and five pass breakups against Syracuse. He’s also contributed at nickel, adding a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss this season.
“He’s a kid. That’s gonna work,” Reed said when asked about Terrell's leadership amid the adversity. “I mean, he may not always be very vocal, but when you turn on a tape and you see this young man play with the heart that he plays with, people will take notice of that.”
Reed even shared an example of Terrell’s toughness, recalling a moment when the 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner buckled the knees of a 300-pound lineman.
“What else can you say?” Reed asked. “You don’t have no excuses, because here goes one of your best players, putting his body on the line for his teammates. That’s the ultimate sacrifice. That’s love.”
Despite the encouraging signs, Clemson’s secondary has taken a notable step back statistically. The Tigers rank No. 89 nationally in passing yards allowed, a steep decline from No. 54 in 2024 and No. 8 just two seasons ago. The overall defensive unit has also slipped to No. 58, signaling larger challenges on that side of the ball.
Head coach Dabo Swinney acknowledged that accountability lies with both players and coaches, saying bluntly that the staff has “failed” to meet expectations so far. For Reed, though, adversity is part of the process.
“I always say this, man. You’re either getting ready to go in the storm, you’re in the storm, or you just got out of a storm,” Reed said. “Either way, you’re going to go through something in life.”
He continued, “Keep working. That’s all you can do. You can’t control those other things. The only thing you can do is control yourself and how you respond to them. So now, when you go through another storm, you’re not shell-shocked, or you’re not taken by surprise by what’s been happening.”
Reed’s group will look to build on last week's success when Clemson travels to face Boston College (1-4) on Saturday. Reed starred as a cornerback for the Eagles from 1991–94 before his professional career with the Carolina Panthers and Frankfurt Galaxy.
