Freshman cornerback confident, must work on technique after career-high in snaps
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Without cornerbacks Sheridan Jones (injured early in the first quarter) and backup Nate Wiggins (not dressed) on Saturday, Clemson relied heavily on freshmen cornerbacks Toriano Pride Jr. and Jeadyn Lukus against Louisiana Tech.
Pride played a career-high 48 snaps and finished with a tackle and three pass deflections.
On how he felt about his first game experience:
"I feel I did pretty okay. I got a lot to fix and to get better at and fix my technique. But in total, I felt I did pretty good."
On what it was like on the field for his first series at night in Death Valley:
"Oh, it was fun. That was my first night game in the valley. And beforehand, I never went to a Clemson game before I came here. It was pumped. But when I was on the field, I had to block out all the noise and all the fans."
On how enrolling in January helped prepare him for early playing time:
"I got a head start on the playbook, better relationships with the coaches, getting closer with Coach [Mike] Reed, and just getting to know the football team -- everybody in the locker room and stuff like that. I feel like that gave me a head start instead of coming in the summer."
On describing himself as a cornerback:
"I'm a hard worker and I don’t back down from anybody. I just feel like I can beat anybody that stands in front of me. As long as I use my technique, use the proper stuff that Coach Reed taught me in practice, I feel nobody should beat me."
On learning from mistakes made on Saturday and making improvements:
"Really, just watching film on all the mistakes I made last game. And [just] this whole week of practice, trying to work on it every single day. Trying to break bad habits. That's really what it is."
On how coming in with Jeadyn Lukus has helped them both:
"Oh, we've helped each other grow a lot. We learn off each other like he might make a mistake and I learn off of it or if I make a mistake, he might learn off of it. So, we just build off of each other."