Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney provided a concerning update on the Tigers’ offensive line as they prepare for Saturday’s matchup with The Citadel.
Heading into practice, nine offensive linemen were unable to participate, adding to the growing list of injuries. Swinney noted the critical loss of left tackle Elyjah Thurmon, who suffered a foot injury in last week’s game against Pitt and is set to undergo surgery. His absence, along with the unavailability of Dietrick Pennington, Collin Sadler, Ian Reed, and Watson Young, has left the offensive line in a tough spot.
“We’ve been pretty lucky up to this point, but we’ve definitely hit a rough patch,” Swinney explained. “When it rains, it pours.” The Tigers are also dealing with injuries to left guard Marcus Tate and Tristan Leigh, although Swinney noted that both are progressing well. Despite the challenges, Swinney remains hopeful, especially with Tate and Leigh trending in the right direction. “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “No excuses. We just have to find a way to make it work.”
Perhaps the most challenging blow has been the loss of Collin Sadler, who Swinney described as a versatile player capable of filling multiple positions along the line. “Sadler can do a lot of things for us, and that hurts,” Swinney acknowledged, emphasizing the difficulty of replacing a player of his caliber.
Despite the adversity, Swinney’s message remains clear: the team must adapt and keep pushing forward. “We’ll make it work. This team has handled adversity all season long, and we’ll find a way to do it again.” With a deep roster, the Tigers will lean on some of their younger players and walk-ons to step up in a crucial moment.