ARLINGTON, Texas — Clemson coaches and fans may be waiting anxiously for the test results. But Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is "at peace."
Lawrence sat calmly on the 45-yard line inside AT&T Stadium on Thursday morning. He spoke to members of the media for the first time since Clemson coach Dabo Swinney announced that Lawrence could miss the Cotton Bowl.
Lawrence is one of three Clemson players who were suspended a week ago after drug tests revealed trace amounts of ostarine, a performance enhancing substance primarily utilized for building lean muscle. A clean B sample could clear the players. Clemson expects to receive those results later Thursday.
"I know that I have no control on what the B sample result will be. I’m just here to support my teammates and try to be a leader," Lawrence said. "I’m not the type of guy to do a selfish act like that. I have too much pride. I love this team and my family too much to even think about putting substance like that in my body. I don’t know where it came from. I don’t know how it got there.
"I was raised different. If I did do it, I’d own up to it."
Lawrence said he was given a choice to appear at media day, and he elected to face the throng of reporters in support of his teammates.
"All of us had a choice," Lawrence said. "I wanted to come because I consider myself a leader and I wanted the guys to know that I’ve got their back just like they’ve got mine.
Clemson has prepared all week for Lawrence's absence. Senior Albert Huggins will elevate to the starting spot. Nyles Pinckney will back him up. Lawrence will continue to encourage them from the sideline.
"I’ve got me a little whistle at practice now," Lawrence said. "I’m making them hustle. I’m running right behind them trying to keep the energy up, keep the savviness up and keep the focus up in the meeting room.
"(We're) treating it like an injury. We missed games before, so it's just a next- guy-up kind of mentality. That’s why you focus all year, all summer, keeping everybody ready at any time."
