Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins announced Wednesday that he was leaving the team early and will declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. He told ESPN that he was grateful for the college experience.

“I’m thankful for Clemson,” Wiggins said. “They developed me into a wonderful man. Dabo (Swinney) and the whole coaching staff are so loving and pour out energy every day. They love everyone who goes through Clemson. They played a big part in my development.”

Wiggins does not intend to play in the Tigers’ bowl game. When asked why he was deciding to leave early, the junior cornerback was straightforward.

“I just feel like it was that time,” Wiggins said. “All the hard work I’ve put in, I feel like it was time for me to declare.”

After a quiet freshman year, Wiggins started as a sophomore and slowly began to live up to his reputation as one of the best recruits at his position. He returned an interception for a touchdown in the 2022 ACC Championship game and played an integral role in the team’s win over North Carolina. In his junior season, he became a leader on the defense and secured two interceptions.

Many draft analysts have ranked Wiggins near the top of their boards at the cornerback position, with many speculating that he could go in the first round. The 6’2″ defender is eager to play at the professional level.

“I’m a cornerback who is going to lock down the best receiver and bring ball skills,” Wiggins said. “They’re going to get a hard worker, someone they can depend on and someone who can get the job done and love their teammates.”

Clemson had a disappointing start to the season but has slowly regained momentum and will certainly appear in a bowl game with an 8-4 record. The former national champions are still recruiting players like Wiggins, an encouraging sign as the team looks to continue building for future runs in the ACC.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have finally drafted Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday.

Last season, it was a race between the Jaguars and the New York Jets in obtaining the first pick of the draft. At the time, New York was more likely to get the first pick because the team had the worst record and the Jaguars had the second-worst record, but Jacksonville was saved by the Cleveland Browns. The Jets pulled off an unexpected upset in their Week 16 victory over the Browns, allowing the Jaguars to hold the first overall pick.

Everybody in the world knew that Jacksonville was going to draft Lawrence with the first overall pick. Lawrence has talent and everything the Jaguars need in a quarterback. Lawrence went 34-2 as a starter for Clemson. The newly drafted quarterback never lost a regular-season game and threw for 10,098 yards and 90 touchdowns with only 17 interceptions, and he ran for 231 yards and 18 additional touchdowns.

“Pretty surreal,” Lawrence told ESPN’s Marty Smith shortly after being picked. “Obviously this has been the dream for the past few years, and like I’ve said, I didn’t even dream this as a kid, so [it’s] really special and just having all the people that I care about here watching, it’s really hard to explain.”

The quarterback also talked about his nervousness and excitement about playing for the team. “I was super nervous before and just am so excited to be a part of the Jacksonville community,” Lawrence said. “I’m super excited to be coming to Jacksonville and play for you guys and can’t wait to go to work.”

The team believes that it has found its new franchise quarterback in the talented 21-year-old quarterback, but Lawrence knows that he will have to prove himself. “I’m not expecting anyone to hand me anything,” Lawrence said. “I want to come in there and earn the respect and trust of my teammates and the right to lead the team.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has faith in Lawrence, who he coached for years. “This’ll be a very easy transition,” Swinney said. “He’s well prepared in what he’s stepping into, the expectations, all those things, that’s his normal, and it has been for a long time. He’s built the right way, he is the epitome of consistency, and if you know anything about Urban Meyer, he values consistency and toughness.”

The team drafted Lawrence’s former Clemson teammate running back Travis Etienne with the No. 25 pick. Jaguars coach Meyer drafted the running back to add speed to the team. “The idea of offense is you can create matchup nightmares, and I’ve had some good fortune over the years to have a guy that can do both, flex out [and carry the ball],” Meyer said. “[Etienne] is as good outside as a receiver as he is as a running back. High-end character guy that has elite speed.”

Last week, it was revealed that an assistant coach of the Clemson football team, Danny Pearman, used a racial slur during a practice in 2017. The incident was reported to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, but there wasn’t anything done about it. This had many people irate with Swinney for what he did or did not do.

On Monday, in a video posted on Clemson Football’s website, Swinney made his first public comments regarding that 2017 incident, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole. “I would fire a coach immediately if he called a player an N-word. No questions asked. That did not happen. Absolutely did not happen. It has not happened. Coach Pearman was correcting D.J., and another player was talking to D.J., or D.J. was yelling at the player, and D.J. said something he probably shouldn’t have said. He said, ‘I blocked the wrong f—ing N-word,’ and Coach Pearman thought he was saying it to him, and he’s mad, and he reacted, and in correcting him, he repeated the phrase. And [Pearman] said, ‘We don’t say we blocked the wrong f—ing N-word.’ And he repeated it. He shouldn’t have done that. There’s no excuse for even saying that. But there is a big difference. He did not call someone an N-word.”

The D.J. referenced in Swinney’s quote was former Tiger D.J. Greenlee who last week said that the incident was addressed internally but was not handled properly with the rest of the team.

Over the weekend, Swinney also faced criticism on social media after a photo came to light of Swinney wearing a shirt saying “Football Matters,” which some thought was Swinney mocking the Black Lives Matter Movement. Swinney said that he had not intention in making fun of the Black Lives Matter movement and that he supports the movement. “Any insinuation I was trying to mock the Black Lives Matter movement is just an attack on my character,” he said. “And really sad. I wholeheartedly support Black Lives Matter. I don’t quite think that’s adequate enough. I think black lives significantly and equally matter. God loves us all. None of us are better than anybody else. Actions are much louder than any words that I can say. I’ve always loved my players. I’m tough on them, but I love them deeply. This past week, it has hurt. It has been hurtful to see the pain in my players, to hear it in their voices. I know they’re hurting, and they have pain for what is going on in this country and this world, and it’s also hurtful to see our program be attacked. We have an opportunity to grow, to learn, to listen, to get better and to get stronger, and that’s what we’ll do.”

Clemson assistant football coach Danny Pearman issued an apology on Tuesday after it came out via social media that he had used a racial slur during a 2017 practice. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWf0Kbd4Izw

Numerous former Clemson football players spoke about the incident, and it was later confirmed by former tight end D.J. Greenlee to The State newspaper. In the incident, Greenlee said that Pearman was not using the slur toward him. “(Milan) was asking me what happened? ‘What’s coach getting on to you about?’” Greenlee recalled. “I was just like, ‘Man I got the (n-word) that came in my gap.’ I was talking to my teammate. That was all that was said. Then the next thing you know coach Pearman starts coming over there. He was repeating what I just said. He’s like, ‘(n-word) this, (n-word) that. The (n-word) wasn’t there.’”

The incident came to light after former wide receiver Kanyon Tuttle responded to a tweet by the Clemson football team in relation to the events taking place across the country. 

Pearman issued a statement on Tuesday, apologizing for what occurred three years ago. “Three years ago on the practice field, I made a grave mistake involving D.J. Greenlee. I repeated a racial slur I overheard when trying to stop the word from being used on the practice field. What I overheard, I had no right to repeat. While I did not direct the term at any player, I know there is no excuse for me using the language in any circumstance. I never should have repeated the phrase. It was wrong when I said it, and it is wrong today. I apologized to D.J. at the conclusion of practice, who then appropriately raised his concern to Coach Swinney. Coach and I met to discuss the incident, and he reiterated that my language was unacceptable. I later apologized again as well as expressed my sincere regret to our position group the following day. I love the young men who choose to come to our university, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt them. I sincerely apologize to D.J., his family, our team and our staff.”

https://twitter.com/_kinggtutt/status/1267804952451256322

One of the things that people have been waiting for is a statement from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. On Monday, Swinney made his first public comments regarding the current protests saying that he and his players are in a position to be positive examples. “The best thing is to use our platform in a positive way and be an example,” he said. “We are a football team, and you know, the best thing that we can do is be able to – for people to be able to point to our team and see, hopefully, what the world wants to see: People who love and respect each other.” 

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Clemson signee Tanner Tessmann has signed a three-year contract with FC Dallas, choosing a professional soccer career over playing college football.

“I’m excited to get started,” Tessmann said. “Signing a professional contract has been a goal of mine since I moved to Texas to join the Academy at 14 years old. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to get this opportunity, so it meant a lot to have my family here with me today.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Tessmann had signed with Clemson soccer and would also have kicked for the football team. Tessman, who had never played football, was given the chance with Dabo Swinney due to his father’s close relationship with the elite football coach.

Swinney has said he was the only person on the planet who knew of Tessmann’s football ability because of his ability to kick 45 to 50 yards in the eighth grade.

“He’s one of the best athletes,” Swinney said. “He could go play D-I basketball. He could probably start at receiver at Clemson. He could probably play safety at Clemson. He’s a 6-foot-2 phenom. He can fly. He’s as good athlete as I’ve ever seen.”

Contrary to the blowout Peach Bowl, No. 3 Clemson and No. 2 Ohio State battled for the chance to play for a national title. The Fiesta Bowl semifinal game saw a close finish with Clemson edging Ohio State by a final of 29-23.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence had an impressive showing against Heisman finalist Chase Young and the Ohio State defense. Lawrence threw for 259 yards for two touchdowns and completed 18 of 33 pass attempts. More impressive, a 67-yard touchdown run, outrunning elite Big Ten defenders in the biggest game of their season thus far.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said of Lawrence, “This guy [Lawrence] can move, man. People don’t really realize that. That’s one of the things that’s changed this game, is he’s gotten as much confidence in his legs now as he does his arm. He picks his spots, but we don’t win the game tonight if we didn’t have his legs.”

Clemson’s Travis Etienne came out the game’s leading receiver, having been the team’s leading rusher all season. He caught three passes for 98 yards, capturing the game-winning score for the Tigers.

Clemson, who has been doubted this entire season for lack of a challenging schedule, showed their stripes and earned respect, edging out the team that sat number one for the majority of the season.

Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons said, “I just think it’s kind of funny. We’re defending champs, 29-0. Nobody really respected us. Apparently, we didn’t play anyone. Now, I don’t think that can be said at all. We finally played someone, as they say.”

Ohio State struggled, especially in the red zone, blowing three opportunities as well as a 16-0 lead.

Quarterback and Heisman finalist Justin Fields was 30-46, throwing for 320 yards and a touchdown. He threw two interceptions having only thrown one all season. The second of which came on a miscommunication with his favorite target Chris Olave who ran the wrong route. Clemson safety Nolan Turner caught the ball, effectively ending the game.

Running back J.K. Dobbins had an impressive game with 18 carries for 174 yards and a touchdown run. Despite the loss, Dobbins showed his toughness and proved why he was such a dominant force for this Ohio State offense.

Clemson will now face LSU in a battle of the Tigers as both teams seek the national title.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

In the third quarter of the Clemson Tigers’ 45-10 win over Louisville, cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. was ejected after throwing a punch at the Cardinals’ Trenell Troutman. Before the officials could even eject him, however, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had already sent the freshman from Dacula, Georgia to the locker room for an early shower.

“That’s not who we are,” Swinney said, “and that’s not who he is.”

On the other hand, after the game was when Booth would really pay the price for his actions. While the rest of the Tigers flew home, Booth was sent on the bus with the team managers, nearly a 450-mile journey.

“He rode back on our manager bus. That’s where it started,” Swinney said. “The rest of it will be handled in-house.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

During a Louisville punt, the two players clashed downfield as Troutman attempted to cover the punt. After wrestling each other to the turf, Booth threw a punch at Troutman and was promptly ejected.

That being said, Swinney and Booth were both quick to apologize and state that this behavior was out of character for both the young cornerback and the Clemson football organization.

“[He] has responded well,” Swinney said. “He is disappointed in himself, embarrassed. He has apologized to our team and our AD. He’s been extremely remorseful. What happened is way out of character for who he is. Very pleased with how he has taken ownership. He had a long bus ride home last night and plenty of time to think about it.”

Booth currently has just three tackles in his freshman season. The Clemson Tigers, however, are currently 7-0, good for 1^st in the ACC and 4^th nationally. They have absolutely torched teams offensively this year, scoring 40+ points in five of their seven wins.

They have also been tough defensively, allowing more than 14 points only once this season to conference rival UNC.

Per Swinney, the Booth matter will be completely handled in-house and will be highly unlikely to derail Clemson’s success so far as they look to stay undefeated when they host Boston College on October 27.

Although freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence hoisted the College Football Playoff trophy last January after Clemson won its third national title this decade, another quarterback ignited the team’s championship run, helping them to win their schedule’s first four games. That quarterback, Kelly Bryant, only now seems as perhaps the most forgotten piece to ever contribute towards a championship, as head coach Dabo Swinney proceeded to solidify the team’s neglect for him, omitting from giving him a championship ring.

“He wasn’t on the team. You’ve gotta be on the team to get a ring,” reasoned Swinney earlier this week when asked about the situation.

After loosing his job to Lawrence, Kelly transferred to University of Missouri halfway through last season, well before the team went on to defeat Alabama and retake their championship throne. Although managing to avoid a wasted season stowed away on Clemson’s bench behind Lawrence, Kelly  vacated his eligibility to play during the postseason due to his decision to transfer halfway through the season, rather than at the end.

During Bryant’s four games as the starting quarterback he threw for 461 yards while also adding 130 rush yards. Bryant’s most impressive game came against a tough Texas A&M team, where Bryant went 12–17 and eclipsed 205 yards en route to a 28–26 road victory. However, after impressing with a four touchdown performance after coming in against Georgia Tech just weeks later, Swinney chose to name Lawrence as the team’s starter. From that point on, Lawrence never looked back, leading his team to another championship and promptly earning a “best player in college football” reputation.

Carrying a typically likable and player–friendly personality, this move from Swinney to deprive Kelly seems a bit uncharacteristically harsh from the reigning ACC Coach of the Year. However, the move also illustrated Swinney’s appreciation for those who remain committed to their team, potentially serving to teach a lesson to all colligate athletes.

With the ringless Bryant existing as just a distant memory, Clemson begins its next quest to add even more jewelry just a few weeks from now, commencing their season with a matchup against Georgia Tech in Death Valley.

The Clemson Tigers have won two of the last three national championships against Alabama, and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Tigers says that the Roll Tide faithful don’t appreciate him too much when he comes back to his home.

Swinney is an Alabama native who played receiver for the Crimson Tide back in his college days, but the Roll Tide fans have made it known to him that they don’t admire him when he’s in their state.

Swinney on a Sirius XM Radio Interview was asked if there are walls being lifted when he enters his home state.

“I don’t know about walls, but I am kinda like Osama Bin Dabo. I have to navigate my way through the caves and back channels to make my way through Alabama these days,” Swinney said with a laugh, according to USA Today. “They aren’t as happy to see me. But it’s all good. It’s a good problem.”

The media is divided with Swinney’s comments, with some taking offense to his comparison, while others try to explain that’s just how the national champion head coach is.

The Big Lead wrote about Swinney’s comments, “The shameful comparison by Swinney goes far beyond a mistake. It shows an incredible lack of knowledge on a topic that many feel is the darkest day in this country’s history. Through that lens, it’s easy to understand a person who now views Swinney differently,” said Bobby Burack of the Big Lead.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – IN MEMORIAM SLIDESHOW 

Despite the media’s backlash, Swinney remains an icon to the football world with his inspiring displays of affection and selflessness on and off the football field.

Swinney has been with the Tigers for over 15 years, starting as the wide receivers coach before acquiring the head coaching job back in 2008. The head coaching icon is 116-30 in total career games under the Tigers, with a .795 winning percentage.

Swinney and his Tigers are looking for back-to-back National Championship titles this upcoming year, as Swinney lost just a few stars to the NFL Draft. He has, however, kept QB Trevor Lawrence for another year of development ahead of an exciting career that is about to take off.

It seems that everyone in the NBA is tanking for Duke star Zion Williamson. There were even “Tank for Zion” chants at Madison Square Garden but nobody expected football teams to want a shot at the power forward.

Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney put out that he could use the 6-foot-7, 292-pound Duke star on his squad. The team is fresh off a national championship win over Alabama and hoping to repeat. In a conversation with Mike Krzyzewski, Duke basketball coach, Swinney said he’d put Williamson “wherever” on his team.

“I’d put Williamson at tight end or wideout or end or wherever he wanted to play,” said Swinney, in a clip released by Duke of the show that aired Thursday. “We might even put him at quarterback.”

“You’d run the Wildcat,” Coach K asked.

“Put in the Wildcat, no doubt,” Dabo replied.

Williamson’s father, Lateef, played football in college. However, the idea was never meant to be. “I didn’t get this size until my junior year of high school,” Williamson said. “And my [high] school doesn’t have a football team.”

Despite those two things, LSU was still willing to offer Williamson a football scholarship.

“I thought, ‘Hell, why not, he’s probably the best damn tight end to ever live,'” former LSU tight ends coach Eric Mateos said.

But to play a sport as physically imposing as football would be an awful mistake for Zion. He can only look to Lebron James for the right choice with sports. Williamson, often called the best prospect since James, has been offered an easy entry to an NFL career like the Lakers star. Most recently, New England Patriots star Tom Brady said James would be the best tight end in the NFL. But with a player-friendly league and guaranteed money, James hasn’t even looked at the NFL.

The No. 2 Clemson Tigers thrashed the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 in Santa Clara, California in Monday night’s 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

CFP Title Game Marks Tide’s Most Lopsided Loss Under Nick Saban

The win gave Clemson their second title in three years, and marked Alabama’s most lopsided loss in a national championship game since head coach Nick Saban took over the program in 2007.

According to CBS Sports, Clemson is now the first college football team in the polling era — in other words, since 1936 — to end the season 15-0, and the first one to accomplish this feat since Penn did it in 1897.

The Tigers finished with 482 offensive yards on Monday, with freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence throwing for a whopping 347 yards.

Clemson previously won a national tile under head coach Dabo Swinney in 2017, when now-Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson led the team to a 35-31 victory over Alabama. Both the Tigers and the Tide finished 14-1 that season.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This year, it was Lawrence and another freshman, wide receiver Justyn Ross, who shone for Clemson: Ross made two incredible catches, including a jaw-dropping, one-handed reception late in the third quarter.

The Tigers also got a strong boost from another pair of underclassmen: running back Travis Etienne — the ACC’s leading rusher — and wideout Tee Higgins, (who logged 81 yards and one touchdown against the Tide) both sophomores.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa — who was outstanding in the team’s 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in last year’s CFP national title game — struggled this time around. He threw two interceptions and was tackled seven times for a loss.

Things became so bad for the Tide by the fourth quarter of Monday’s game that Jalen Hurts replaced Tagovailoa, the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

Other signs of Alabama’s poor performance included six penalties and two fumbles. Another interesting fact to note is that the last coach who defeated the Tide by 16 points or more was Saban back when he led LSU’s football program. (crazy, right?)

Monday night’s game was thus clearly evidence of the fall of one powerhouse team and the comeback of another. We can only hope for a closer, less lopsided CFP national championship game in 2020.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will be returning to his revamped football program with a fresh new contract this fall after it was announced Friday that Swinney and Clemson agreed to an eight-year contract worth $54 million in total.

Swinney is being rewarded handsomely for getting the ACC football team back into an era of glory, having brought the team to a national championship game in both 2015 and 2016, winning the trophy last year. It was the first time the football program had won such a game since 1981.

The university released a breakdown of Swinney’s pay from 2017-2024. While he will average $6.75 million each year, he stands to make $7.5 million in 2017 because of a $1.5 million signing bonus.

The deal also stipulates bonuses for ACC championship titles, Coach of the Year awards, and national championship wins, which would land him an extra $2.5 million.

“Dabo’s impact on our football program, our university and our community is immeasurable and goes well beyond the on-field success and national championship,” Dan Radakovich, Clemson’s Director of Athletics said in a statement. “This new agreement demonstrates our strong commitment to Dabo and our confidence in his leadership now – and in the future – and his long-term commitment to Clemson. We are thrilled that he and his family will be a part of the Clemson family for years to come.”

Swinney, who began his head coaching job at Clemson in 2008, has brought the Clemson program back to prominence. In eight full seasons, he maintains a 89-28 overall win-loss record. In the ACC, the Clemson Tigers have posted a 54-15 record under Swinney’s leadership. In the past six years, Swinney’s team has only lost 13 games.

Because of his success, many speculate that Swinney has become the de facto replacement for Nick Saban at Swinney’s alma matter, Alabama, Clemson’s main competitor in recent years. But this eight-year contract may quell talk of a Swinney defection.

“My family and I have been extremely blessed to be a part of such an incredible university and community for the past 14 years,” Swinney said in a statement. “This contract makes a strong statement. It is a mutual commitment reflective of the program we have built and continue to build at Clemson. The Clemson family does so much to support our program and I couldn’t be more proud to be your head coach.”

The new contract puts Swinney much closer to the top of the list of highest paid college football coaches. In 2016, only two coaches made more than $6.75 million – Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who made $9 million, and Saban, who made $6.9 million.

In the past year, Clemson has committed to spend over $100 million on their football program – a $55 million football facility was just completed earlier this year.

Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said the university is honoring quarterback Deshaun Watson, tailback Wayne Gallman and receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott, all juniors, because they are heading to the NFL after this season.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman Among Those Headed To NFL

“Those guys indicated to me back in the summer that this was going to be it for them,” Swinney said Tuesday. “They were going to graduate in December, and their plan was to be a senior. They’re more seniors than some of the seniors.”

The four players will be honored at Senior Day on Saturday when the No. 3 team hosts Pittsburgh. It’s an honor reserved for players who aren’t returning.

“All those guys are planning on moving on,” Swinney said. “Definitely want to honor them while we have the opportunity. They’ve earned it.”

Watson, a Heisman Trophy candidate, is expected to be among the top picks in next year’s NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3 Williams is also believed to be a potential first-rounder.

Gallman and Scott are also hoped to be drafted next year.

Watson last year became the first in the Football Bowl Subdivision to throw for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards.

The Tigers (9-0, 1st in Atlantic Division) are coming off a 54-0 home shutout of Syracuse.

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 22: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass as he is pressured by KeShun Freeman #42 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on September 22, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins stated Wednesday that while he respects current Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, he also believes Swinney’s recent remarks about 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest demonstrated a severe lack of understanding.

Former Clemson WR DeAndre Hopkins Responds To Coach Dabo Swinney’s Anthem Remarks

“You can’t speak on something unless you’ve been put in that situation,” Hopkins, a 24-year-old receiver for the Houston Texans, told reporters. “I wouldn’t speak on something about something else if I had no idea what was going on or how they felt because I couldn’t relate to it. So I don’t suggest anybody else do it.”

Swinney explained his viewpoint on Kaepernick’s protest at length Tuesday, and said he would never reprimand his players for protesting the national anthem because that falls within their rights. Nevertheless, that point is subject to debate at Clemson, since players remain in the locker room during the playing of the anthem.

The 46-year–old coach then added that he has a problem with Kaepernick’s protest because “it creates more divisiveness, more division.”

“I think there’s a better way,” Swinney said. “How about call a press conference? Express your feelings. Everybody will show up, talk about it. Go and be a part of things, and protest them. That’s great. I think everybody has that right. I certainly respect that. But I just think that this just creates more division. That’s what I hate to see.”

Hopkins grew up in Central, South Carolina, and played with the Tigers for Swinney from 2010-12. The Pro Bowler, who has played for the Texans since 2013, wanted to make clear that he is not completely against his former coach, rather simply that he believes it’s difficult for a white person like him to fully understand the hardships black people like him go through.

Hopkins faced several incidents of racism growing up in South Carolina. He shared a story of going to a new school that was predominantly white as a middle schooler.

“I was getting called (the N-word) a lot and I just knew it was offensive and me being me I went to the principal and I told him: ‘These guys are calling me this name, what should I do,’ ” Hopkins said. “And the principal was a white guy and he said: ‘Get used to it, you’re going to deal with it your whole life.’ ”

Those words remain with Hopkins after all these years and will likely remain with him forever. That’s why he thinks that those who don’t understand what it’s like to suffer those problems are not the right people to tell him or anyone else what the best way(s) to fight racism, injustice and oppression is/are.

“I think it’s hard to speak on something that you can’t relate to,” Hopkins said. “You can’t put yourself in other shoes because you’ve never been in poverty or in situations where you had people look at you and judge you because of your color.”

Kaepernick said he was protesting to express his anger with the pervasive, repeated oppression of black people and other minorities across America.

Hopkins wore a pair of Kanye West’s Yeezy cleats for the Texans’ 23-14 season-opening victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, and was subsequently fined $6,000 for this.

The rapper recently entered the shoe game by selling an Adidas-brand pair of cleats of his own design.

HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 11: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans warms up before playing against the Chicago Bears at NRG Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)