Darien Rencher

Darien Rencher's last act as a Clemson football player was being a part of a team that had a dramatic turnaround in 2021 after a 4-3 start. That team closed by winning six consecutive games, including a 30-0 suffocation of South Carolina and a victory over Brock Purdy's Iowa State team in the Cheez-It Bowl. At that time, 10-3 felt like a jarring low point. Four years later the Tigers are 1-3 and Dabo Swinney is desperate for answers as he tries to keep this from turning into a wreck similar to Florida State's 2-10 disaster last year. Rencher remains close to the program, and he remains a devout Swinney loyalist. He communicated with his former coach this week and Rencher says he still has not just hope but confidence that the team can get it back on track and close with a flourish. Rencher also goes deep into his latest venture: Traveling for in-depth video interviews with high-profile figures including Fran Brown, Carson Beck, LaNorris Sellers, Gunner Stockton and Ryan Williams. The goal is getting these figures to open up in ways that they do not during regular press conferences, and Rencher seems to have firmly checked that box thus far.