UNC’s Jaiden Patterson Reacts to Clemson Defeat, Seeks Fixes

The sophomore defensive back met with the press at the Kenan Football Center after the Tar Heels lost 38-10 to Clemson on Saturday.

Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Jaiden Patterson (18) breaks up a pass intended for Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tristan Smith (3) in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Sophomore defensive back Jaiden Patterson met with the press at the Kenan Football Center after the Tar Heels lost 38-10 to Clemson on Saturday.

To watch, check out the video below!

Partial Transcript

How did you describe today?

Max Johnson | UNC Atheltic Communications

I'll describe it as we just got to work. We got to do our jobs and keep playing. I feel like it's a lot more football to play, so we got a lot more things to do.

I know obviously you haven't had a chance to really look at it as far as doing it and everything like that, but obviously that first quarter Clemson was kind of able to do their thing against the passing game. What do you think was kind of breaking down the secondary and how I'm going to get as many explosive plays?

It was really, we just really needed to do our job. People, you know, as a whole, we weren't as locked in. I would say we got to just keep working, doing our job, and execute and do our game.

You guys defense allowed almost 400 yards, so 99 yards passing. Can you talk about what happened here?

UNC Huddle; Oct. 4, 2025 | Jackson McCurdy

I was just, again, I'm sorry, I'm repeating myself. It's just like on the small plays, there was a couple plays we just didn't execute and do our jobs, and miscommunication, and that's what led to a lot of yards.

I know your general manager had written another suggesting that this season was a rebuild and to be patient with the program. I'm curious how that resonates with you inside the locker room and what you would set as your expectations for the remainder of this season. I want to say it's a rebuild. We still got seven more games, all ACC play, so I'm pretty confident in our team. We're going to work during this bye week and keep playing.

You said the guys weren't locked in or collectively weren't locked in. What do you mean by that? And where did that show up on the field?

Bill Belichick speaking to players | Jackson McCurdy, Tar Heels On SI

I wasn't saying like not locked in as a whole. I was just saying like it was getting focused on making plays instead of just letting the play happen.

Do you think that at times when a bad play happens, this team, especially defensively, kind of allowed to snowball for a few plays, they have a little difficult time regrouping?

No, I wouldn't say that at all. I would say like as a whole as a defense, we always, next play, we just leave the last play behind. We just play play-to-play.

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