Dabo Swinney Reveals 3 ACC Players Who Gave Him Nightmares

As Dabo Swinney sat down to field questions at ACC Media Days in Charlotte, one reporter threw out a simple but loaded question: Who are the greatest ACC players you’ve ever coached against?

Swinney paused for a moment — and understandably so. He’s been around the ACC for nearly two decades and has game-planned against some of the best to ever play college football. But then the names started to come.

First: Lamar Jackson.

If you were in Death Valley in 2016, or even just watching from home, you remember it. Jackson’s performance in that Clemson-Louisville showdown became one of the most iconic games of the decade — a back-and-forth thriller between a rising power and a quarterback who was redefining what the position could be.

“Lamar… he made you hold your breath,” Swinney said. “When he touched the ball, it was like, ‘Thank God we got him down.’”

Next came Dalvin Cook, the former Florida State star running back who gave Clemson all kinds of problems during his time in Tallahassee. “Same thing with Dalvin,” Swinney said. “Those two guys — when they had the ball, it was just hold your breath and hope you survived the play.”

But Dabo didn’t stop with offensive stars. He then turned his attention to the defensive side of the ball, naming Luke Kuechly, the former Boston College linebacker who later became a fan favorite in Charlotte with the Panthers. And the frustration in Dabo’s voice was clear — even years later.

“I used to get so mad,” Swinney said with a laugh. “I’d be like, ‘If this guy has 19 tackles on us, I’m going to lose my mind.’ And I’d check the tape — he’s got 20 tackles! I mean, why can’t we block this guy?”

He called Kuechly one of the most underrated players in college football, someone who “made every play” and seemed to be in on every tackle no matter where the ball went.

Swinney has faced Heisman winners, future NFL stars, and elite-level talents during his Clemson tenure. But when he reflects on who truly made life difficult on the sidelines, it’s Lamar Jackson, Dalvin Cook, and Luke Kuechly who still stand out.