CLEMSON, S.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that cornerback Ashton Hampton has been named ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his performance in Clemson's 18-13 win at Syracuse on Saturday. The Tigers have now garnered 603 ACC weekly honors since 1968, including 11 weekly awards this season.
The honor is the first of Hampton's career and Clemson's third ACC Defensive Back of the Week selection this season. Cornerback Elliot Washington II earned the honor for Clemson's September victory at Cal, and safety Jerome Carter III collected the award for Clemson's Halloween win at Florida State. The 2026 season marks the first time Clemson has earned three or more ACC Defensive Back of the Week awards in a season since 2000, when the Tigers earned four.
Against Syracuse, Hampton tied for the team lead with eight tackles while adding two pass breakups and an interception. He was pivotal in limiting star Syracuse wide receiver Umari Hatcher to season lows in receptions (two) and receiving yards (12); Hatcher had entered the game ranked fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (119). Hampton recorded his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter, a critical red-zone stop in the end zone.
The performance was a continuation of Hampton's standout season. The Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist is the only player in the ACC (and one of five players nationally) with four or more games with multiple pass breakups in 2026. According to official NCAA stats as awarded by gameday stat crews, Hampton ranks second in the FBS and first among power conference players in passes defended (interceptions plus pass breakups) this season with 14.
After two weeks on the road, Hampton and the Tigers will return home to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, for a 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Ticket information is available at ClemsonTigers.com/FootballTickets.
