Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed Monday evening that redshirt sophomore linebacker Kobe McCloud and redshirt sophomore safety Caleb Nix will both miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to knee injuries. McCloud, who will require surgery, and Nix, a key special teams player, were both set to play significant roles this season.
“Kobe, a very important player for us, and Caleb, a starter on all of our special teams and a backup safety, are both out for the year,” Swinney said. “You just hate it for those guys, but some other players will have to step up in those roles.”
McCloud, who contributed with a tackle in Clemson’s season opener against Georgia, has been a valuable presence on defense. Entering the season, he had 16 career tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in 13 games. Nix, a walk-on who joined Clemson in 2022, appeared in eight games prior to 2024 and made his season debut last week against Appalachian State.
Swinney acknowledged the tough reality of the injuries, adding, “You hate it for these guys because they’ve worked so hard, but it’s part of the game.” The loss of both players leaves gaps for the Tigers, and now other players will need to step into those roles as Clemson moves forward this season.