Clemson Prepares for Pinstripe Bowl Shorthanded, but Focused on Opportunity
As Clemson gears up for its Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Penn State, the Tigers will do so without a significant chunk of their roster. Head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed that 26 scholarship players won’t be suiting up - a mix of injuries, opt-outs, and transfers that have reshaped the team’s depth chart heading into the postseason.
Seventeen of those absences are injury-related, including redshirt junior wide receiver Antonio Williams, who’s been battling a lingering shoulder issue. Williams has also declared for the NFL Draft, officially closing the book on his Clemson career. His absence leaves a noticeable gap in the Tigers’ passing game, but it also opens the door for younger receivers to step into the spotlight.
Four players have opted out entirely - defensive linemen Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, and DeMonte Capehart, along with junior cornerback Avieon Terrell. Terrell missed most of the South Carolina game with a quadriceps injury, and his decision to sit out the bowl game isn’t entirely surprising given the circumstances.
Safety Khalil Barnes, the only Clemson starter to hit the transfer portal so far, has left the program. He’s joined by linebackers Dee Crayton and Jamal Anderson, cornerback Shelton Lewis, and running back Keith Adams Jr., all of whom are also transferring.
The Tigers will also be without starting linebacker Wade Woodaz, who recently underwent wrist surgery following an injury sustained against South Carolina. Offensive lineman Collin Sadler is out as well after shoulder surgery.
“It’s a long list, but nobody cares,” Swinney said. “Excited to see these guys step up and go play.”
That’s the tone Swinney’s sticking with - next man up. While he had previously said he’d be “shocked” if anyone opted out of the bowl game, the reality of modern college football has made situations like this increasingly common.
Clemson fans have seen this before. In 2022, defensive end Myles Murphy sat out the Orange Bowl before becoming a first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Last year, cornerback Nate Wiggins and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. opted out of the Gator Bowl. Running back Will Shipley played in that game and suffered a knee injury - thankfully without structural damage - but it was a reminder of the risks players face when suiting up in non-Playoff bowls.
This time around, Clemson enters the Pinstripe Bowl at 7-5, far from the College Football Playoff spotlight. And that changes the equation for draft-eligible players weighing risk versus reward. Millions of dollars are on the line depending on where a player is selected, and for some, the safer route is sitting out.
Still, not everyone is stepping away. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, offensive tackle Blake Miller, and running back Adam Randall - all with NFL potential - are practicing and preparing to play. For them, and for others still locked in, this game is an opportunity to make a statement.
Swinney pointed to the cold-weather setting in New York as a proving ground - not a deterrent. He recalled how C.J. Spiller’s performance in a frigid Music City Bowl helped boost his draft stock, eventually landing him with the Buffalo Bills.
“Just check the weather reports at the NFL stadiums this Sunday,” Swinney said. “I think it's 4 degrees in Green Bay. All right, Klubnik, if you want to play quarterback, check out what the weather is in New York.”
Penn State, sitting at 6-6, is dealing with its own wave of opt-outs. Running back Nick Singleton, defensive tackle Zane Durant, defensive back Zakee Wheatley, and offensive lineman Vega Ioane have all chosen to skip the bowl game at Yankee Stadium.
But Swinney isn’t dwelling on who’s not playing - his focus is on the players who are still all-in.
“We're not worried about who opted out. We're focused on who opted in,” he said.
“That's our focus. Who's opted in, who's finishing in this game.”
One player who won’t be finishing the season with the Tigers is tight end Ian Schieffelin. The former Clemson basketball player, who made the switch to football this year, has decided to begin training for professional basketball opportunities. Schieffelin appeared in eight games, logging 20 offensive snaps and catching two passes for 10 yards.
“It wasn't an easy decision,” Schieffelin said in a statement, “but to be able to get back on the court as soon as possible, I have to begin training and preparing.”
So while Clemson won’t be at full strength in the Bronx, the message from Swinney and the program is clear: This bowl game is still a chance to compete, to grow, and for some, to show NFL scouts what they can do when the lights come on - even in December chill.