Dabo Swinney gives update on receivers Antonio Williams, Beaux Collins

The Clemson Tigers are down a few pass-catching threats on the outside as they prepare for their final game of the regular season against their heated in-state rival, out of the SEC Conference, South Carolina. Wide receivers Antonio Williams and Beaux Collins have been dealing with injuries this season. But will those injuries keep them out of Clemson’s showdown with South Carolina?

As the Tigers prepare to take on the Gamecocks, head coach Dabo Swinney provides an update on his two wideouts, starting with Williams.

“He’s been practicing some. He’s getting better, getting better each day, said Swinney.

As for Collins, the update was simple but definitely not what Clemson fans wanted to hear.

“Beaux is going to be out.”

Collins has been Clemson’s top pass-catcher on the season in terms of yards. The junior wideout from Los Angeles, CA, has recorded 38 catches for 510 yards and three receiving touchdowns. It goes without saying his presence on the field will be greatly missed by the tigers.

Williams, on the other hand, appears to be trending in the right direction and would be a welcomed addition to the Clemson offense, especially with Collins ruled out. Still, fans should anticipate Swinney having his Tiger players up to the challenge of taking down the Gamecocks and exacting revenge for last year’s 31-30 loss to South Carolina, which knocked them out of College Football Playoff contention.

Swinney hopes that rivalry games can be salvaged through realignment

Swinney hates to see how conference realignment has caused the end of so many rivalry games in college football. Annual battles between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State as well as Oregon and Oregon State are a couple of the casualties as the Sooners and Ducks move to new leagues.

With Clemson set to play South Carolina this week in an in-state rivalry between two schools from different conferences, Swinney spoke on the importance of these kinds of games. He lamented the loss of what he feels makes college football special, questioning why teams can’t find a way to keep the tradition alive.

“It’s great for the fans, obviously,” Swinney said. “It’s great for the players, too, to go to college and to be able to experience playing in games like this that are so meaningful to just everything. Everybody that you interact with, it’s just really meaningful. That’s the one thing you worry about with where college football’s going. Five years from now, it’s totally different. That’s just the way it is.

“So a lot of these type of games will go away. Already they’re not playing Oklahoma-Oklahoma State. Are you kidding me? How the heck are we not playing Oklahoma-Oklahoma State? It doesn’t make any sense. Can you imagine not playing Clemson-South Carolina?”

It has already been confirmed that the Bedlam battle between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will end after this season. The Sooners and Cowboys have played every season since 1910, making the rivalry the second-longest uninterrupted series in the FBS. For fans, players and staffs on both teams, it is an unfortunate reality.