Cade Denhoff

...FOR ALL THE CHAOS THE FOURSTAR SENIOR PROSPECT CAUSES ON THE FIELD, HE HAS REMAINED A STEADY CONSTANT BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

Photos provided by Clemson University Athletics Department

2020 was a year of constant change and questions. Routines were altered, plans deferred, and lives completely upended. As the fall approached, students of all ages were left wondering whether or not they would be able to return to their school grounds. For student-athletes, they were left wondering if they’d be able to return to the field or court. However, in the midst of such uncertainty one thing remained constant for the Vikings’ football team: Cade Denhoff.

Measuring in at 6’5” and 235lbs, Cade is an athletic freak of nature for offenses when he lines up at strong side defensive end, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, running backs, and whoever else has the misfortune to find themselves in his sights. Yet for all the chaos the four-star senior prospect

caused on the field, he remained a steady constant both on and off the field for the Vikings during his senior year.

Cade wrapped up his senior season for the Vikings, graduated in December and headed to Clemson, South Carolina, where he started taking classes for his Construction Science Management degree while practicing with the Tigers for their spring season.

We spent some time talking to Cade and his former LCS coach, Danny Williams to hear how he has navigated his senior season during COVID-19, the areas he has grown in as a young man and football player, why he was so eager to commit to Clemson University, and how his freshman year of college is going.

How did quarantine and COVID-19 impact your preparation going into your senior season and how you approached your college recruitment?

Cade: I committed (to Clemson University) in January of 2020, so I didn’t have to deal with too much recruitment stuff during COVID. In terms of preparation and getting ready for the season, it didn’t really affect me aside from not being able to get together and work out. That was hard but I was able to work out on my own until we were able to start practicing together again.

What was it about Clemson that made you want to shut down your recruiting and commit back early?

Cade: I’m a big guy on culture and Clemson does culture really well. They create a great family atmosphere and a faith-based program. They treat their players very well, including their recruits. So for me it was their culture and their commitment to winning comes after that.

Cade committed to Clemson University in January 2020, citing the culture of the program as the biggest deciding factor.

“...MY BIGGEST THING IS TO LEAD BY YOUR ACTIONS AND SETTING THE EXAMPLE THAT WAY.”

How do you feel you grew as a player and person during your four years at LCS?

Cade: Well I got a lot bigger, obviously. That kind of happened naturally, so what I really tried to work on was my speed and quick-twitch reflexes. I got a lot faster and more agile. I also wanted to develop my technique so that came down to a lot of pass rushing and hand drills. Off the field, I grew a lot as a leader as I got older. I can be that type of guy who will get in your face and be loud, but my biggest thing is to lead by your actions and setting the example that way.

Coach Danny, in what ways did you see Cade grow and develop?

Danny: Cade started for us as an eighth grader. He was all of 5’11” and 160lbs, so he was like this skinny kid running around out there. But we understood pretty quickly that Cade’s work ethic and his motor…that’s the type of stuff you just can’t coach into a guy. He obviously developed into this hulking monster on the defensive line for us, but even before that he was always our hardest working kid. He’s going to work on the weekends. He’s going to do all those little things that, as a coach, “Man, that kid has got that ‘it-factor.’” With Cade it’s his work ethic and his leadership. He’s going to always put in the most work and he’s going to hold his teammates accountable to always give their best. When he speaks and leads, the other guys listen.

Cade’s work ethic and leadership abilities on and off the field were invaluable for the Viking varsity team.

How has your freshman season at Clemson been so far?

Cade: My freshman season has been amazing. It has been really fun getting closer with the older guys as the season goes on. And the food…we eat some really good food during the season! The only challenge has been time management because the season is so busy.

Have you followed your former Viking teammates through the LCS season this year?

Cade: Yes, and it has been really fun to watch them play. They showed a lot of resiliency and toughness as the season went on and especially in the playoffs.