Clemson football’s offensive line depth took another hit during Saturday’s 24-20 victory over Pitt as freshman Elyjah Thurmon suffered what head coach Dabo Swinney described as a likely season-ending injury on the very first play. Thurmon had stepped into the starting lineup due to Tristan Leigh’s absence, as Leigh is recovering from an ankle injury suffered in last week’s win over Virginia Tech. Marcus Tate also missed both games, leaving the Tigers scrambling for solutions.
The season-ending losses of Collin Sadler, Dietrick Pennington, and Ian Reed have further strained the team’s situation, leaving Clemson’s offensive line alarmingly thin. When asked Sunday about managing the position group, Swinney acknowledged the challenge. “Yeah, we got a feel,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
Clemson faces The Citadel at home this Saturday, and Swinney hinted that the matchup might provide an opportunity to rest players. “We’ve got a whole week to figure it out,” he said. Swinney expressed cautious optimism about Leigh and Tate’s recovery, saying, “I do feel good about where Tristan and Marcus are, as far as the progress that they’re making. Hopefully, they’ll keep trending in a good direction.”
The Tigers will need to piece together a patchwork offensive line for at least another week, with the hope that Leigh and Tate might soon return to action. Meanwhile, the team continues to adapt in the face of mounting challenges.