What Ruke Orhorhoro’s Emergence Has Meant for Clemson
By: Grayson Mann
The 2021 season will go down for many as a season filled with chaos, underwhelming on the high expectations or the injuries that plagued the team throughout the year. For Ruke Orhorhoro, it was a breakout campaign.
When star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went down, it was Ruke’s turn to show the Clemson faithful what he was capable of, and he did not disappoint. He was credited with 42 tackles, with 8 credited as a TFL (Tackle for loss), two sacks, and a fumble recovery through thirteen games and nine starts. Ruke would help pick up the pieces and produce in a big way, leading to a ten-win season with six straight wins and a bowl win over Iowa State.
2022 would see Ruke as part of a rotation on the front seven that many touted as a defensive front that would wreak havoc in every game in which the Tigers would play. Ruke has not let up this season, having big moments when Clemson needed them the most. In Clemson’s first significant test against the now top ten Demon Deacons, Ruke posted three tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup against the prolific Sam Hartman offense. Defensive plays for the Tigers in Winston-Salem were few and far between, but players like Ruke would allow Clemson to hold on for what is now viewed as a quality win. Ruke would have two tackles against NC State, a game in which the defensive unit held Devin Leary in check for a top-ten win against the Wolfpack. You can also look at this previous Saturday, where top fifteen Syracuse gave Clemson a significant scare that involved a last-second interception and a switch at quarterback to get by with the win. Ruke would post one tackle and two pass breakups, with one of those deflections coming up on fourth down.
Ruke has brought up an interesting tidbit to the media: his play on the basketball court and how his pickup game has inadvertently helped him find the ball for key deflections. Ruke may compare himself to Lebron as a basketball player, but his ability to step up in crunch time cannot be denied.
When the team has needed him to step up, he has done so in a big way. With the bye week taking place, the team has had time to rest up and prep for the final stretch of the season, which they hope will include a trip to Charlotte for the ACC crown and a chance for the College Football Playoff.
Ruke looks to be a key contributor as the Tigers prepare for Notre Dame, whom they face in South Bend on November 5th.
