Dabo Swinney calls Justin Mascoll a game-time decision

Clemson is hoping to be as close to full strength as they can be when they head to Raleigh this weekend. Even so, the status of DE Justin Mascoll remains up in the air at this point according to Dabo Swinney.

Swinney spoke on Mascoll’s health and availability early on during his press conference on Wednesday. With Saturday getting closer, he labeled Mascoll as day-to-day ahead of the Tiger’s date with NC State.

“Yeah, still kind of day-to-day, getting better,” said Swinney. “So hopeful but still day-to-day.”

This came after an update earlier this week where Swinney also labeled Mascoll as day-to-day.

Mascoll is in his sixth collegiate campaign as last weekend’s double-overtime loss at Miami was the 60th appearance of his career. He became just the sixth player in the program’s history to reach that number of outings.

In his seven starts this fall, Mascoll has posted 16 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. That brings him up to career statistics of 78 tackles, three pass deflections, a pair of sacks, and the one forced fumble.

There are still two more days until game time rolls around inside Carter-Finley Stadium with Clemson set to play the Wolfpack. Still, at this moment, Swinney’s call on Mascoll remains undecided based on the latest on the graduate defender.

Swinney announces RJ Mickens is out vs. NC State after surgical procedure

The hits keep coming for Clemson.

Dabo Swinney announced on Tuesday that S RJ Mickens will miss the next contest against NC State. Mickens will be sidelined after undergoing surgery to get his appendix removed, according to Swinney.

“Mickens is going to be out. They had to take his appendix out yesterday. Stomach ache and hurting. And he had appendicitis. So he’ll be fine but you’ve gotta heal up from getting that taken out,” Swinney said. “It’s a tough break for us there, for sure. But we’ll get them ready.”

Mickens has started every game this season and is third on the team in tackles with 32, good for third-most on the team. He also has three pass deflections and a fumble recovery on the season.

He did not provide specifics as far as which other Tigers players are banged up but it sounds as if there are some.

“Those two, for sure, will be out,” Swinney said of Mickens and WR Antonio Williams. “And then still got the other guys that you already know about that have been out – Cole (Turner) and Walker (Parks). And then a couple of other guys day to day. So we’ll see.”