Dabo Swinney details list of Clemson players hurt for spring workouts

Clemson returned to the practice field last Friday for the start of Spring practices.

Of course, like most teams around the country, the Tigers do so with a kaleidoscope of colorful jerseys that distinguish how much work players are able to do at practice.

Dabo Swinney addressed Clemson’s injury situation this Spring by acknowleding the difference between players in green and yellow jerseys, both of which indicate no live action.

“Injury-wise, … you’ll see some guys that are in green and those guys are in practice and working their way back, some will work their way out of green, some will be in green all Spring depending on their situation,” Swinney said last Friday. “In green, they’re really doing everything, they’re just not doing any live work. And you’ll see some guys in yellow, and the guys in yellow are longterm guys.”

From there, Swinney rattled off a list of 12 players — including his own son, Clay Swinney — that he expects will be limited or completely out during Spring practice.

That list included freshmen defenders Logan Anderson (knee), Champ Thompson (unspecified) and Ari Watford (knee); sophomore defensive tackle Stephiylan Green (hernia), sophomore running back Jay Haynes (knee) and sophomore offensive linemen Ian Reed (unspecified) and Elyjah Thurmon (ankle); junior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry (shoulder), junior receiver Clay Swinney (foot); and senior cornerback Jeadyn Lukus (shoulder), senior guard Walker Parks (shoulder) and senior defensive end Zaire Patterson (foot).

Swinney made clear many of those in green and yellow jerseys are still recovering from offseason “cleanup” surgeries to repair nagging injuries from prior seasons.

Dabo Swinney blunt on Cade Klubnik’s return to Clemson: ‘There was never any doubt’

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was not surprised in the least that Cade Klubnik returned to the Tigers for the 2025 season.

Klubnik had his best season in 2024, helping Clemson to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff. But he came back for more and Swinney was already preparing for the possibility.

“Didn’t have a reaction, because I knew he was coming back, so there was never any doubt that he was coming back,” Swinney said. “So there really was no reaction. It was just, it was, I mean, I knew he was coming back.”

Klubnik set career highs last season, throwing for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 63.4 completion percentage.

Klubnik wasn’t the only starter to come back for Clemson. Swinney attributed the player retention to the culture within the program.

“I mean, it just speaks to the culture here,” Swinney said. “I mean, we’ve had seismic changes in college football the last few years. I mean, like in the history of the game, and I think we’ve been top in the country, you know, top couple (of teams) in the country the last two years, in retention. So, I mean, I think it kind of answers itself. It’s not like we lock them in a room here and tell them they can’t ever leave. These guys leave anytime they want, you know?” 

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.