Note: The following appears in the Georgia Southern football digital gameday guide, available HERE.
Fifth year-defensive lineman Caden Story is in his final season with the Clemson football program and intends to leave a lasting mark, but it is not just about football for him. When asked about what he wants to achieve in his final season as a Tiger, he did not talk about statistics he hoped to put up, stats he wanted to achieve or the number of wins he wanted to accumulate.
He talked about leading his teammates well.
“I want to be more of a leader,” said Story. “I'm one of the older guys on the team, being a fifth year, so it’s about being a vocal leader and a leader who leads by example. That looks like taking the young guys under my wing and helping them out with any little thing, whether it may be off the field, on the field, playbooks, whatever it may be. I’m trying to be that guy who they can lean on and count on to know that he has my best interest [at heart].”
Story had a career-high game against Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl in December when he tallied four tackles and a half-sack. He credited this performance as the boost he needed to enter the 2026 season with confidence.
“It was a reassurance of who I was and who I'm capable of being on the field when I get my opportunity,” explained Story. “I had a lot of confidence in my ability and I liked knowing what I could do. From that point on, I’ve asked myself how I can get better each and every day and build off of that.”
Story hails from Lanett, Ala., and football runs in his family. His uncle, Marcus Pollard, played 14 years in the NFL as a tight end. Additionally, his father played football and baseball at Jacksonville State and his brother played football at Alabama and Kentucky. Being surrounded by such talented football players his entire life, his family greatly influenced his own football journey.
“Coming from a football background, football is something that we live by day in and day out. My dad was my coach in high school, so every day it was sports, sports, sports. I took what God blessed me with and used my ability to play.”
Not everyone gets to have their parent as a coach, and fewer are coached by their parent in both middle and high school. Story was a part of that select few. He played for his father from seventh grade until he was a senior at Lanett High School, which taught him countless life lessons and shaped him into the player he is today.
“The game of football teaches you a lot of different things, a lot of values and lessons. So it’s learning those things from my dad on the football field, and then getting home, where he’s just ‘dad.' He's not a coach anymore. It was him taking that time and being with me personally from seventh grade to 12th grade to keep instilling those things in me day in and day out, whether that’s practice, at home, meetings, whatever it may be.”
Story was a four-star recruit out of Alabama and one of the best pass rushers in his class. The transition from high school to college football is no easy feat, but Story stepped up and embraced the challenge.
“Back in high school, I was bigger and more talented than a lot of guys. Once you get to Clemson, you're not the best guy anymore and you have to come in and compete and get better.”
As he is wrapping up his time as a Tiger, he reflected on his Clemson experience and how this place changed him as a player and as a man.
“I'm more confident than I've ever been in the playbook and everything that it is in my ability on the field, with me being able to play faster, know the playbook and know why we're doing certain things. With me being an older guy, this program has helped me and allowed me to mature and grow up. From four years ago to now, I'm at my best. This is the best that I've ever been, mentally, physically and spiritually.”
Story earned his degree in sports communication from Clemson in December and hopes to remain involved in the sports industry when his chapter as an athlete closes. Clemson’s professional development program, P.A.W. Journey, has played an integral part in Story’s professional journey. He completed multiple different internships through the program, the most impactful being with Spectrum.
“I was able to go on a business week trip with P.A.W. Journey. We were able to get practice and broadcast ourselves about something that we watched the previous day. It was a great experience for me, personally, working on set with the camera and audio. I definitely feel prepared going into life after football.”
For Story, true victory is rooted in how he can help others and push the greater whole to success. It is never been about him.
“It's not about who goes out there or who plays. I want this team to reach our potential, so I want to be my best so that everyone else can be their best.”