Injuries have heavily impacted the Clemson football program this season, and on Wednesday, head coach Dabo Swinney provided both a positive and a negative update on the team’s health. As the 2024 college football season winds down, injuries remain a significant factor for Clemson.
Heading into this weekend’s rivalry game against South Carolina, the Tigers are dealing with a lengthy list of injuries. Swinney shared specifics during his Wednesday update, delivering both good and bad news.
Starting with the bad news, Swinney announced that offensive lineman Trent Howard tore his ACL during practice this week, ending his season.
“I do have some unfortunate news to report,” Swinney said. “We lost Trent Howard yesterday. He tore his ACL. My heart breaks for Trent. He’s one of the best kids on this team—so committed and a great teammate. He’s a senior and has saved us two years in a row. That kid has been there when we needed him. It just breaks my heart for him, but he has strong faith and a great family. He’s obviously out.”
Howard, a fifth-year senior, has primarily served as a backup this season but stepped up recently due to Clemson’s significant injuries along the offensive line. In Clemson’s 24-20 win over Pitt, Howard was called into action on the second snap after Elyjah Thurmon suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Howard then started in Clemson’s 51-14 win over The Citadel last Saturday and was a potential starter against South Carolina if Marcus Tate, who has missed the last three games, remained unavailable. Now, Howard’s injury leaves Clemson’s already depleted offensive line even more vulnerable.
On a brighter note, Swinney shared promising news about linebacker Wade Woodaz, the team’s leading tackler, who is making progress in his recovery.
“Woodaz has gotten better each day,” Swinney said. “He was still pretty sore on Monday, but he’s improved little by little. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to roll. We need him.”
Woodaz, a junior from Tampa, Florida, has missed the past two games due to a severe leg contusion. Despite his absence, he leads Clemson with 65 tackles and ranks fourth on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. His return would provide a significant boost for the Tigers in their matchup against South Carolina.
It appears that Wade Woodaz’s availability will come down to a game-time decision, a development Clemson fans will be watching closely as the week unfolds. The Tigers will need all hands on deck for this crucial matchup—not only to secure a victory in their annual rivalry game against South Carolina but also to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
