Toriano Pride Jr. Ready For a Big Year Two

After making two starts as a freshman in 2022, Toriano Pride Jr. is ready to take the next step at Clemson.

How much Toriano Pride Jr. plays in 2023 is yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure; the Tigers are going to need big things out of the former 4-star cornerback out of East St. Louis. Both sophomore Nate Wiggins and senior Sheridan Jones are back for another season, but Clemson will have 3+ corners on the field more often than not, meaning Pride will get his opportunity.

“I feel like I could’ve done a lot better,” said Pride, speaking about his freshman season. “I’ve got a lot of things I can improve on, but for a freshman, I feel like I accomplished what I was looking for in Clemson, coming here early. There’s a lot of stuff I can still work on in my sophomore year.”

Toriano Pride Jr. played in all 14 games for Clemson in 2022

As a freshman in 2022, Pride saw the field a great deal, earning extremely valuable playing time. He played 333 snaps over 14 games, making two starts. Pride recorded 22 tackles, 1 interception, a sack, and a safety on the season. “I feel like experience most definitely slows the game down for me more,” said Pride. “I’m more educated on the defense. I know a lot more positions. I’m learning everything.”

Toriano Pride Jr. realizes the opportunity he has, and he’s taken Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney’s words about improving to heart. “Really just everything. With how coach Swinney uses [football], it’s not just in football. He says ‘How you do anything is how you do everything’, you finish in school, you finish on a play, you finish the drive off. So, just finish. Finish during the season.”