Dabo Swinney does not expect Sheridan Jones to play for Clemson in bowl game

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney does not expect defensive back Sheridan Jones to be available for the Gator Bowl against Kentucky. Jones played only one game in the month of November as he dealt with injury and it appears that could have been his last in a Tigers uniform.

Even with more than two weeks until kickoff, Swinney is not confident that Jones will be healthy enough to play.

“He’s not gonna be able to go,” the coach said. “His hips, he got a shot the last couple of games to try to be ready and he’s been battling some migraines all year. He had to miss a game for that. He just doesn’t think he can do it. Maybe something changes there. I don’t know. Even if he couldn’t play, just having him ready to play would be a shot in the arm for us.”

Jones has played all five seasons of his college career at Clemson. He has appeared in nine games this season with seven starts to record 23 tackles, one interception and two passes defended.

With Jones likely out, it could create an opportunity for some of the younger Tigers players to step up and earn some valuable experience. That includes true freshman Shelton Lewis, who has seven passes defended as well as an interception returned for a touchdown.

Swinney even joked that running back Will Shipley could fill in the spot if needed.

“We’ve got plenty of guys,” he said. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll get some depth. We’ve got some guys that will scrap and go battle. Move Shipley over there. Shipley’ll go do it if we need him to. We’ve got what we need.”

Jones ends his college career with 108 tackles, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. He appeared in 56 games with 28 starts, including seeing action in all 14 of Clemson’s games as a true freshman in 2019.

Jones was thrust into a starting role the following year. He had the best season of his career in 2021 as a junior to finish with 24 tackles, four passes defended and one interception.

Clemson finished this season 8-4 but ended the year on a four-game winning streak to close things out strong. The Tigers will hope to extend that to five when they kick off against Kentucky at noon ET on Dec. 29 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.