Clemson will be without one of its top running backs for Saturday’s College Football Playoff showdown against Texas.
Head coach Dabo Swinney announced Monday that Jay Haynes, the team’s second-string back, is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL during the ACC Championship Game victory over SMU. Haynes underwent surgery earlier in the day.
The injury occurred in the third quarter when Haynes took a direct hit to the knee on a kickoff return. Before the setback, the redshirt freshman had five carries for 15 yards in the game. This season, he totaled 295 rushing yards and three touchdowns while serving as a key backup to Phil Mafah.
With Mafah also dealing with injuries, Clemson will rely on other running backs like Keith Adams Jr., Jarvis Green, and David Eziomume. Eziomume, who redshirted this season, can participate in postseason games.