Clemson DL Coach Nick Eason Praises Vic Burley as Tigers’ Most Improved Player, Expects “Upward and Onward” Rise

Clemson defensive line coach Nick Eason has coached plenty of high-ceiling talent throughout his tenure with the Tigers, but this offseason, one name has risen above the rest in terms of growth, grit, and transformation: redshirt sophomore Vic Burley.

The former four-star prospect out of Warner Robins, Georgia, came to Clemson with lofty expectations, possessing the size, strength, and upside to become a difference-maker in the Tigers’ defensive front. However, like many young players adjusting to the college level, Burley’s journey hasn’t been without its hurdles.

“He faced a lot of adversity early on,” Eason said, referencing a string of injuries that slowed Burley’s development during his true freshman campaign. “When you come in highly touted and then deal with physical setbacks, it can be tough mentally and emotionally. But Vic showed me a lot. He never backed down.”

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman was limited in his first year due to those injuries, seeing minimal live action and spending most of the 2024 season rehabbing and reshaping his approach under Eason’s guidance. But this spring, everything seemed to click.

“He played well this spring. He’s leaner, stronger, more explosive — and he understands our scheme now,” Eason said. “We’re not just coaching talent anymore. We’re coaching a guy who knows where to be, how to get there, and why it matters.”

That cerebral leap has helped Burley not only close the gap between potential and production but also position himself as a key rotational piece, if not a full-time starter, heading into the 2025 season. And in a room that lost All-ACC mainstays like Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis to the NFL, the emergence of Burley couldn’t be more timely.

“Vic’s biggest jump wasn’t just physical. It was maturity,” Eason added. “He became a student of the game. He started asking questions, staying late, watching film, and doing extra mobility work — not because we told him to, but because he wanted it.”

For Burley, who was part of Clemson’s stacked 2023 recruiting class that included elite defenders like Peter Woods and Tomarrion Parker, the pressure to stand out was immediate. But now, with a clean bill of health and a full spring under his belt, he’s finally beginning to realize the promise that made him one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country just two years ago.

Sources inside the program have echoed Eason’s sentiments. Strength coach Joey Batson called Burley’s body transformation “eye-opening,” noting that he’s dropped unnecessary weight and added functional mass. Fellow linemen describe him as “relentless” and “way more vocal” than in years past.

“Sometimes you forget he’s just a redshirt sophomore,” senior edge rusher Xavier Thomas said. “He carries himself like a vet now.”

This internal shift hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Tigers’ offensive line either. Left guard Marcus Tate, one of Clemson’s most experienced linemen, said Burley was a “nightmare to block” during spring scrimmages and praised his improved hand placement and leverage.

“Last year, he’d try to overpower you, but now he’s combining power with technique,” Tate said. “That’s when it gets scary.”

With fall camp approaching, the expectation is that Burley will see significantly more playing time in 2025, potentially sliding into the role vacated by Orhorhoro or Davis. And while competition remains fierce along the Tigers’ defensive front — with players like Woods, Payton Page, and Caden Story all vying for reps — Eason believes Burley has carved out a spot for himself with his consistency and determination.

“We always tell our guys, ‘It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you finish,’” Eason said. “And Vic is finishing every drill, every rep, every play — the right way.”

Eason’s declaration that Burley is the most improved player of the offseason is no small accolade, especially in a program known for churning out elite defensive linemen. But it’s also a reflection of Clemson’s continued commitment to development — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

“When we recruit kids, we look beyond stars and stats,” Eason said. “We look for guys who love the process. Vic loves it now. He’s embraced the grind. He’s embraced the coaching. He’s embraced his story — the ups and the downs.”

And Burley’s story may just be getting started.

Asked what’s next for the young lineman, Eason didn’t hesitate.

“Expecting him to climb upward and onward,” he said. “He’s earned that.”

That climb begins with Clemson’s opener against Appalachian State, where the Tigers are expected to unleash a deep and aggressive defensive front led by a healthy mix of veterans and rising stars. Burley is projected to see rotational snaps early in the season, with the potential for more if he continues to dominate in practice.

Behind closed doors, coaches say he’s already drawing comparisons to past Tiger greats like Dexter Lawrence and D.J. Reader — not because he’s reached their level yet, but because his motor and mindset suggest that he might.

“I’ll never put that kind of pressure on a young man,” Eason clarified. “But I will say this — Vic has everything it takes to be special. Now it’s up to him to go chase it.”

As for Burley himself, the sophomore hasn’t spoken much publicly about his rise. Those close to the program describe him as humble, focused, and more interested in the work than the recognition.

“He doesn’t care about the noise,” Thomas said. “He just wants to ball.”

And for a team looking to reassert its defensive dominance in the ACC and beyond, that kind of hunger is exactly what Clemson needs.

There’s still a long season ahead, and the Tigers face high expectations following their ACC Championship appearance last season. But with Vic Burley turning heads and turning corners, Clemson’s future up front looks just a bit brighter — and sturdier.

Upward and onward, indeed.