Vic Burley arrived at Clemson last year with high expectations as a former five-star recruit and the Georgia 5A Defensive Player of the Year. Enrolling early in January 2023, he seemed set to immediately impact the Tigers’ defensive line. However, knee injuries sidelined him for his true freshman season, turning it into a redshirt year. He faced more setbacks with a hamstring injury in the spring but has now returned to the field, ready to contribute.
In Clemson’s first two games of the season, Burley made his presence felt, recording a tackle against No. 1 Georgia and adding another against App State. Despite the Tigers’ depth at defensive tackle, defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin is excited about Burley’s potential, highlighting his athleticism and size. “He’s a monster. He’s a people-mover. Really massive guy in there,” Goodwin remarked. “But he’s athletic. Basketball player in high school, so he’s got really good feet… Just really want to see him take the next step.”
Burley had an impressive high school career, helping Warner Robins High School to state football championships and amassing 188 tackles, 55 tackles for loss, and 22 sacks in 47 games. Goodwin sees a promising future for the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder, emphasizing his skills and the potential for growth.
“He’s very knowledgeable at the position. The sky’s the limit for him,” Goodwin added. “I think going forward, he’s only going to get better and better, and people are going to really recognize his ability inside.”