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Aiken Standard, S.C.
Clemson depth chart undergoes major changes as injuries pile up
- Story byAiken Standard, S.C.
- Clemson depth chart undergoes major changes as injuries pile up
Nov. 3—CLEMSON — If health is wealth, then Clemson's pockets — and players — are hurting as the calendar turns to November.
The Tigers are shipping up to Syracuse, N.Y., for a noon matchup with the Orange on Nov. 7. The team that trots out onto the field in the JMA Wireless Dome will look much different from weeks past. Three offensive starters will miss the game, plus a handful of key backups.
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Offensive linemen Elyjah Thurmon (concussion) and Harris Sewell (ankle) will both miss Saturday's game at least. Running back Gideon Davidson (ankle) is also sidelined. On the defensive end, backup linebacker Kobe McCloud is also out.
In response, Clemson will have to lean on some inexperienced youth, and a veteran who's been biding his time for an opportunity.
"Those guys, they got to collectively, as a group, step up and help us," head coach Dabo Swinney said.
Depleted offensive line gets even younger
Clemson entered the season trusting what it had on the line of scrimmage but knowing there'd be growing pains. After pursuing but failing to sign a handful of transfer offensive lineman, the Tigers decided to stick with who they already had. In that group, none had significant experience at their would be position.
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Harris Sewell, Collin Sadler and Brayden Jacobs got reps elsewhere on the line in previous years.
Now Sewell is down and requires tightrope surgery. He is hopeful to return by the season finale against South Carolina. Thurmon is in concussion protocol after being hospitalized due to a hit to the head he took against Florida State on Oct. 31.
In their place, redshirt sophomore Gavin Blanchard will start at left guard and true freshman Grant Wise will plug in at center. Blanchard played against Cal and Miami for a hobbled Thurmon and Wise has been in rotation at right guard.
It might be nerve-wracking for Clemson fans to hear a freshman is expected to hold things down at center — it's not exactly a walk in the park to read opposing rushers and snap the ball. However, people within the program are high on Wise. Swinney has said he projects as Clemson's center of the future.
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"I don't even think Grant played center in high school actually," Jacobs said. "It did kind of shock me with how much raw knowledge he had and how easy it was to understand for him."
Swinney said reserve guards Ronan O'Connell and Tucker Kattus should also get some more opportunities on the depleted line.
Younger Davidson swapped for veteran Green
In fall camp, Swinney said Clemson's five-man running back room of Davidson, Chris Johnson Jr., Jarvis Green, David Eziomume and Jay Haynes might seem overcrowded, but he was sure the Tigers would need all of them at some point.
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He was right.
Eziomume is out for the year after being injured against Cal. Green was sidelined for a stint with a shoulder injury. Haynes had a setback in the preseason, which kept him from making a return from injuries sustained back in the 2024 ACC Championship Game until Oct. 17 vs. Charleston Southern.
Now, Clemson's starter is out for at least a week. Davidson sprained his ankle against FSU and will miss the Syracuse game. He doesn't need surgery.
Green is being pushed up to the starting running back job. Because of lingering injuries throughout his career, it's the first time he's gotten a real chance at significant touches. He's shown promise in limited reps this season, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 32 touches.
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"Jarvis — he's kind of always beat up. I mean, he really is," Swinney said. "He's one of those guys we got to kind of manage through the week, and then you just get him to game day, and he just knows how to play."
Johnson, the only RB of Clemson's top five to not get hurt this year, remains the second-string. Haynes and walk-on Max Wilson might get on the field as well, Swinney said. Wilson ran seven times for 52 yards against Charleston Southern.
Clemson can also rely on freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds to use his legs. Reynolds set a program record for the longest run by a QB with a 79-yard touchdown against the Seminoles.
New adds join already lengthy injured list
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It's been a rough go health-wise for Clemson this year. Transfer defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly tore his ACL in the spring and is still ramping up since returning to play. He was expected to contribute and maybe start before his injury.
Fellow DT Devarrick Woods is just now fully healthy after dealing with injuries all year.
Clemson also had to swap in sophomore nickel back Donovan Starr for an injured Corian Gipson.
The Tigers lost backup freshman receiver Gordan Sellars III due to a concussion two weeks ago. He returned to practice on Nov. 2 and suffered another unspecified setback, putting his availability this weekend into question.
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DT Markus Strong has been out since Week 1 against LSU with a lower-leg injury. He was initially expected to miss the season, but Swinney has recently been hopeful Strong could make it back to take on the Gamecocks on Nov. 28.
Swinney knocked on his wood podium as he said: "Defensively, we're in a pretty good spot."
Clemson can't control injuries, but it's hoping it can control how those in waiting can step up in place of the missing starters this weekend.
"That's why you prepare, and, you know, what you wish for," Swinney said. "Now's your opportunity."
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Next up
Next up
What: Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC) at Syracuse (4-4, 2-4)
When: Saturday, noon
Where: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ESPN2
Reach Jackson Castellano at jcastellano@postandcourier.com . Follow him on X @jaxacastellano.
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