Coach Dabo Swinney dropped a bombshell on October 5, announcing that starting nickel Corian Gipson will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. This is a massive hit for the Tigers, especially with Swinney confirming Gipson needs meniscus surgery and will “probably be out for a few months.” Just when the guy was getting back on the field, too. Brutal.
The Devastating Timeline For Clemson’s Secondary
This isn’t just some random new injury. Gipson first got hurt in Week 3, right before the North Carolina game on September 19. He even played on the Tar Heels’ first drive before having to sit out the rest of that one. Then, he missed the Week 4 trip to California completely. The real gut punch came against Miami on October 3, where he re-aggravated the injury. Get this: the dude played through it, collecting five total tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in that tough 41-13 defeat! After another MRI, Clemson’s doctors recommended surgery. Swinney didn’t mince words, calling it a “big, big loss for us” and saying “he really needs to fix the meniscus, so that’s a big loss for us for sure.” Gipson, a junior, was in his third season with the Tigers and his first as a full-time starter, racking up 17 tackles across four games played. This is a huge void to fill.
Who Steps Up Now at Nickel?
So, with Gipson sidelined, who’s going to fill those big shoes? Senior Misun Kelley is listed as the backup at nickel. He’s got three tackles this year and is in his fourth season with Clemson, his second as a defensive back. The catch? He’s smaller than Gipson, coming in at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds compared to Gipson’s 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. Swinney also mentioned that cornerback Donovan Starr, who’s seen 18 of his 36 snaps in the slot already this season, could play more nickel. Safety Ronan Hanafin is another name floated as someone who might get more time there. Don’t count out freshman Marcell Gipson Jr., either. Swinney said Marcell is “finally back healthy” after an injury derailed his camp progress. He’s “been kind of ramping up these past couple weeks,” so maybe he gets a shot. We also saw star cornerback Ashton Hampton play 24 snaps at nickel against Miami, 17 more than his previous high. That was probably to cover Miami’s slot receiver Malachi Toney, but if Hampton moves inside more, then Branden Strozier could see more action on the outside. It’s going to be a real chess match for the coaching staff.
Jay Haynes’ Return Could Be a Much-Needed Boost
In some potentially good news, Swinney gave an update on senior running back Jay Haynes. He hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in the 2024 ACC Championship Game against SMU. Haynes was listed as out for the Miami game, but that was for personal reasons, as he attended a funeral. Swinney said Haynes is “just now getting back healthy” after facing some setbacks. “He’s a really good player,” Swinney added, emphasizing that Haynes gets everyone excited when he’s healthy in practice. “This is coming at a good time, as far as getting him back where he’s healthy and can practice, and then got a couple weeks to get ready.” Haynes was a beast in 2024, rushing for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 43 carries. Getting him back would be a huge shot in the arm for the offense.
Clemson (3-2) has an open week now, which is definitely needed for healing and adjustments. They’ll host Charleston Southern (2-3) on October 17 at noon on the ACC Network. It’s a crucial stretch to get healthy, integrate new guys into the secondary, and hopefully, see Haynes back on the field making plays.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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