ARLINGTON, Texas — Dexter Lawrence doesn’t know how a banned substance made its way into his body, but the Clemson defensive tackle wasn’t going to let the whispers continue.
Given the option of avoiding Cotton Bowl media day or facing the music, the projected first-round NFL draft pick chose the latter, repeatedly pleading innocence to the failed drug test that may sideline him for Saturday’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.
“I’m not the type of guy to do a selfish act like that. I have too much pride,” Lawrence, a junior, told reporters Thursday morning as he was surrounded by writers, photographers and television cameras. “I love this team and my family too much to put a 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. All I can say is I honestly don’t know what happened, where it came from.”
Traces of muscle growth substance ostarine showed up in a recent drug test taken by Lawrence, along with offensive lineman Zach Giella and tight end Braden Galloway. The three have lockers near one another, but otherwise, they aren’t necessarily close, Lawrence said.
All three have taken a secondary “B” test, with the hope it will clear them, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Those results have yet to come back.
“When Coach Swinney called me, I was in shock,” said the 6-foot-4, 350-pound Lawrence, who has produced 44 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks this year. “I stick to a strict routine. Nothing has changed. I’m confused. I’m mind-boggled. I just honestly don’t know. [I’m] doing research, just trying to find out what I’ve done differently or what I’ve drank differently or something like that.”
Lawrence had no idea how the drug wound up in his system and suggested it could have come from an energy drink or possibly hair gel. In the meantime, Clemson is preparing to face the Irish without Lawrence, treating his absence like an injury. He is not getting any reps in practices and will be replaced by senior Albert Huggins in the starting lineup if the test holds up.
Lawrence’s absence wouldn’t cripple Clemson, but it would weaken arguably the best defensive line in the country, a unit that also features fellow All-ACC first-team selections Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins.
“I know that I have no control on what the ‘B’ sample result will be,” Lawrence said. “I’m just here to support my teammates and try to be the leader that I’ve been all year.”
