CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Beasley going for the sack record
Beasley had two sacks against Georgia, and then recorded three against NC State

Beasley going for the sack record


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Vic Beasley Vic Beasley
RS Jr. Defensive End
#3 6-3, 225
Adairsville, GA

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is going after the record.

The single-season Clemson record for sacks is currently held by former Tiger linebacker Keith AdamsKeith Adams

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, who recorded 16 sacks during a spectacular 1999 campaign. Former defensive end Da’Quan Bowers came close in 2010 when he registered 15 ½ sacks.

Beasley, the junior defensive end out of Adairsville, Ga., is ranked second nationally in sacks with five after recording three sacks at N.C. State last Thursday night. According the NCAA website, Beasley is second only to Memphis’ Martin Ifeti, who has recorded 5 ½ sacks in three games. Two other players have recorded 5 ½ sacks, but they have done it in four games.

Beasley is on a pace to record 20 sacks this season, but the NCAA record for sacks in a season is held by the late Derrick Thomas, who recorded 27 sacks back in 1988.

Beasley recorded eight sacks in a part-time role last season, and I asked him Monday in the WestZone if he had a particular number goal in mind for this season.

His answer was loud and clear.

“If there is a record, I am trying to break it,” Beasley said. “Whatever the record is, I am going for it.”

Beasley said he learned a lot from last season, when he played 288 snaps. He has also bulked up to 235 pounds and is using a power move as well as a speed move in his efforts to get to opposing quarterbacks.

“I learned a lot from last year. Last year, I used a lot of my quickness and not much straight speed power,” he said. “This year I have put on a little more weight and gotten a little stronger and tied that in to my pass rush. I would say they are a whole lot easier this year. I got a whole lot of experience last year and that has helped me out this year. It’s all about experience. The experience from last year has helped me grow a lot. Knowing the defense as a whole and what Coach Venables wants from me.”

He then said that when opposing offensive linemen look at his film from last season, all they see is a lightweight defensive end who only had one way to get to the quarterback.

“I have come a long way from last year when I just used my quickness,” Beasley said. “They [opponents] watch my film from last year and they know that I am a quick guy so they play more to my speed now than my speed to power or inside move. Just keeping the offensive tackles and guards on their toes has helped me out a lot.”

Beasley came to Clemson as a tight end and even spent time at linebacker before moving to defensive end. He said that he had a lot of doubts about ever finding one position, but likes the one he plays now as he chases that record.

“I had a lot of frustrations and a lot of doubt throughout my years here,” he said. “Thank God I found a place and I love where I am at. I thought I would be a linebacker or a tight end – I never thought I would be a defensive end.”

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