CLEMSON – Don’t feel sorry for head coach Dabo Swinney or the Clemson football program. They are going to be just fine.
That was the message set forth by Swinney and left guard Eric Mac Lain following Tuesday’s practice during a question and answer session dedicated to the news that starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader wouldn’t be with the team for the foreseeable future.
Reader’s departure came as a bit of a shock to a program that has dealt with myriad personnel issues since May – reserve defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko was arrested and dismissed; starting kicker Ammon Lakip was arrested and will miss three games; starting left tackle Isaiah Battle decided in June he would forego his senior season and enter the NFL’s Supplemental Draft; reserve linebacker Korie Rogers decided last week his heart wasn’t in football and decided to quit the team; starting Nickel/SAM Korrin Wiggins tore his ACL a few weeks ago and will miss the season; add in Reader and the Tigers are struggling to find experienced bodies to put in the field.