Dabo Swinney provides optimistic outlook on Trenton Simpson, Walker Parks injuries

Clemson bounced back from their upset loss against Notre Dame with a 31-16 home win over Louisville on Saturday. The Tigers secured the win without a key player on each side of the ball, missing linebacker Trenton Simpson and offensive lineman Walker Parks due to injury.

“Trenton it was ankle and Walker was in the concussion protocol,” Swinney said.

Simpson is Clemson’s leading tackler with 57 tackles on the season, and Parks is one of their anchors on the offensive line. Their losses were crucial ones, but Swinney is confident that both of them will return to the lineup sooner than later for the Tigers.

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“Hopefully he’ll be back next week, he just couldn’t go this week, and same thing with Walker,” Swinney said. “They were both kind of close but not to the point where they would clear them to play, so hopefully, both of those guys will be back next week.”

Swinney also gave a brief update on wide receiver Beaux Collins, who also missed Saturday’s game against the Cardinals and is the Tiger’s current leader in receiving touchdowns with five on the season.

“And Beaux same thing, I don’t know if he’ll make it back next week, but hopefully South Carolina for sure, we’ll see, we’ll see where he’s at,” Swinney said.

Clemson’s latest win secured their spot in the ACC Championship game following the regular season, and hopefully for them, they can enter that matchup at full strength with a fully starting lineup.

Dabo Swinney calls for an ‘alpha’ on Clemson’s defense

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is rarely short for words, but kept his answer brief when recently asked about the leadership of his defensive unit. Swinney was asked if any of his defensive players have stepped up vocally at practice this week following comments from defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin relating to needing more leadership on that side of the ball, keeping his answer short and sweet.

“They’re all trying to, but somebody needs to be that alpha, and we’re gonna find out,” Swinney said.

The Tiger’s defense surely could’ve used an alpha in their blowout, upset loss on the road this past weekend when they fell to unranked Notre Dame 35-14. The Tigers defended the limited Irish passing attack well, but could not stop their running game as they gave up 263 yards on the ground, their worst run-stopping performance of the season.

The Tiger’s loss dropped them from No. 4 to No. 10 in the rankings, but still leaves them in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic division of the ACC, as they remain undefeated in conference play. Their College Football Playoff hopes may have taken a hit, but their conference championship hopes remain in the balance.

Hopefully for the Tigers, they can finish the season strong and find their so-called ‘alpha’ on defense soon, as they take on Louisville at home this weekend whose offense features Malik Cunningham, one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation.