FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cordrea Tankersley still has a hard time comprehending how he made the play.

On the first possession of the second half in the ACC Championship, North Carolina was in the midst of a go-ahead touchdown drive and moving the ball with ease.

Along with a 25-yard completion to Mack Hollins, runs of 19 and 16 yards by Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood helped push the ball deep into the red zone.

Clemson was up 21-16 when Tankersley picked off Williams’ pass to Quinshad Davis about five yards in front of the Tigers’ goal line.

“Something we game planned the whole week and it was something we knew that they would do,” Tankersley said. “I saw that (Davis) was a little tucked inside and I said, ‘They’ve got to be doing something inside.’

“So I knew it would be a little pop pass or a shallow. I saw (Davis) stem in and come up. I said, ‘I’m going to jump it.’

“We needed that play. I came up with it. Believe it or not, I don’t know how that I caught it, to be honest with you.”

For Tankersley, that wasn’t the biggest stop Clemson’s defense made all season. There were others. Plenty of them.

The two-point conversion stand against Notre Dame was the first one that came to mind.

“All of our games are big, but that was my first biggest game ever. To go through that experience, I think that kind of prepared us for any other big game,” Tankersley said.

On the play, he was manned up against Irish wide receiver Corey Robinson, who’s almost 6-foot-5. Tankersley was convinced a fade pass was headed his way.

“I was really prepared, but I saw a quarterback sweep to the other side and I was just praying, I just saw Ben (Boulware), Carlos (Watkins), a lot of them just blow up the line and make the play,” Tankersley said. “I was blank from there. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.”

There were others, like the picks Adrian Baker came up with in the rivalry games.

“Adrian Baker’s interception against Florida State and against South Carolina, if he doesn’t make those plays, we’re probably not here,” Tankersley said.

If Tankersley adds to his team-high five interceptions in the Orange Bowl on Thursday against Oklahoma, Clemson’s 2015 run could continue with a trip to Arizona for the National Championship.

If you are not already a Clemson Insider register today for Free and enjoy all of the Insider information on TheClemsonInsider.com.