Fall Camp 2023 | Marcus Tate and Ruke Orhorhoro

Marcus Tate

On coming back from his knee injury:

"The biggest takeaway for me was just never take my opportunity for granted. I worked really hard and now that I have an opportunity to play again, I want take it (for granted) for anything. Everything I do is for love now. I definitely just don't take anything for granted and just really work hard and love what I'm doing."

On his injury:

"I tore my MCL, my MPFL-- because my kneecap fell out and went back in-- and then I tore a part of my patella. It was pretty intense, but the way I looked at it is like, it's something I had to deal with. If I had a bad attitude about it, I know I wouldn't have gotten back the way I did. So I attacked it every day and I made it aggressive for myself because this was a time I felt like I truly got to work on myself, my body-- to really lock in on something. My focus is way better than it has been the previous two years just because of this. So I knew I really had to take advantage of the opportunity to get better and really just focus on my rehab. That's what it allowed me to do."

On the new offense:

"The biggest difference, I would say is definitely the tempo of the offense. It's more creative, I'd definitely say. We're getting our playmakers the ball in the space more often. So it really takes a lot of pressure off for the O-line because we have a lot lighter boxes, I ain't gonna lie. I just think the tempo is faster, and we're able to play more aggressive and more free in this offense for sure. We have more say in what we're doing in pass protection and stuff like that."

On Tristan Leigh’s development:

"I mean, his work ethic is second to none. Y'all gotta see the way the man has been working this offseason. I think he's really taking it serious about this opportunity he was given. I see it every day. He cares. That's one thing you can't take that from anybody, you know, what I'm saying? If you care, I can respect that. He's really taken advantage of his opportunity. He's working every day. He's looking good. I'm pulling for him."

Ruke Orhorhoro

On playing defensive end during the Orange Bowl:

"Yeah, definitely. I was recruited here to play D-End, so it's still in my skill set. So I just had to show the world I could still do it, even though I put on the weight. I think that helps my draft stock tremendously. I feel like I can play all five positions across the board on the D-Line anywhere you put me. I feel like I could be disruptive, especially with the help of the guys next to me like TD (Tyler Davis), XT (Xavier Thomas), and (Justin) Mascoll. They helped me be successful, so I think it's very easy for me to play anywhere across the line because I got those guys right behind me."

On if Clemson is becoming D-Line U:

"Becoming? I think we've been D-Line U, honestly, in my opinion. I can go down the list starting Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams, Refrigerator Perry-- so many guys you can name that have not only been successful at the college level but at the next level. I feel like we're D-Line U, and I feel like it's up to us, this next wave, to show the world that we're still D-Line U."

On the freshman defensive linemen

"All of them surprise me, honestly, Vic (Burley), Steph (Greene), and Peter (Woods) they're tremendously ahead of where I was and where TD was when we first came in. They do things that me and TD didn't start doing until our sophomore and junior year. So seeing them come in already that advanced and having a coach like Nick Eason, to back them. It's scary to see what they'll be in the next two, three years. I expect some of them to be gone in three years, and I hope it all works out for them."

On Nick Eason:

"I think he's the best D-Line Coach in America, truthfully. He's played at this level, and not only at this level at this school, so he takes a different level of pride in it. He instills that in us. He knows what it's like to be out there and fall camp with tendinitis in your knee or your ankles hurting and pushing through. He knows how to take care of us, but at the same time, he always pushes us. That's one of the best things I like about him. It doesn't matter if you're a freshman or a fifth-year senior like me or TD; he's gonna get in your butt the same way. I feel like that's what pushes us to be great. Seeing how hard he works. It makes me want to go out there and put it out on the line for him. Just seeing that he would do the same for me. Why not do the same for him while I'm out on the field?"

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