Clemson is a month out from its season opener against LSU in Baton Rouge, and as fall camp gets underway, Dabo Swinney is already sorting through a handful of injury situations.
The most prominent update remains defensive tackle Hevin Brown-Shuler, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May and will miss the 2026 season. Swinney said Brown-Shuler continues to respond well to treatment and has stayed around the program throughout the process.
"he is doing amazing."
"It is such a blessing, he is doing amazing," Swinney said. "The treatment's working, and we're just so thankful for the modern medicine and technology, and all the research that's been done.
Just how smart these doctors are. His body is really responding well, so we're just really, really happy for him."
Brown-Shuler has remained active around the team during treatment, even asking defensive line coach Nick Eason last month to send him the playbook and keep him updated on drills. Swinney said that connection has continued as camp begins.
"You're gonna see him," Swinney continued. "He's been here really every day, he's a part of camp doing everything he needs to do… He's got a long way to go, but so far, his body is really responding well, so that's encouraging."
On the offensive side, Swinney said true freshman Adam Guthrie will also miss the entire 2026 season. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound lineman arrived late after finishing his senior basketball season at Miami Trace High School, but injuries have followed him to Clemson.
He had been managing an issue from high school, then tore a meniscus in workouts. Clemson has already handled the meniscus, and the other problem is next.
"He had an injury in high school that he's been dealing with and then had a meniscus that he tore in workouts," Swinney stated. "We went ahead and fixed [the meniscus tear]. We've already done that, and then we're going to go ahead and fix the other issue he's been dealing with because he's going to be out for a significant amount of time anyway."
"He just got here, so we're gonna take care of him. He'll work his way back as the season goes, but don't anticipate him being able to play this season."
Even with the setback, Swinney said Guthrie still has plenty ahead of him once he gets healthy.
"It's still a big year for him; he's gonna be a really good player, and there's a lot of work ahead for him," Swinney told the media. "Obviously, he's gotta get back physically, but strength and conditioning, mentally, learning what to do, the system - he's gonna learn a lot from watching the guys this fall."
Swinney also noted that former walk-on running back Peyton Streko is working back from a long-term injury that required surgery. He added that quarterback and/or hybrid athlete Chris Denson was in yellow on the first day of camp, meaning he is in a no-contact period after a hamstring injury this summer, though Swinney said he has been "progressing really well."
By the end of the update, Swinney said Clemson is otherwise in good shape heading into camp.
"Other than that, we're in great shape," Swinney finished. "I think our strength and conditioning staff did a fantastic job this summer, you know, getting these guys to this point where they're ready to go practice football. Now, we've got to take it from there."
In Other News...
Clemson Just Lost O-Line Depth Before Camp Even Began
Clemsons offensive line room took a hit before camp even got going, as Danny Stein is no longer part of the active roster after joining the Tigers this summer as a walk-on transfer from Furman. Stein was expected to provide depth as a backup and scout team player, the kind of role that matters over the course of a long season even if it never grabs much attention.
Instead, Stein will stay with the program in an off-field capacity while continuing to pursue his degree, giving Clemson one less body in the trenches but keeping him around the team environment. For a position group that can never really have enough depth, it is an early reminder that the margins on the offensive line can change quickly before a snap of fall camp is even taken. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Enters Clemson Camp With Pressure Fans Can Feel
Clemson opens camp carrying a different kind of heat around Dabo Swinney, with the program coming off a 7-6 season in 2023, its first year without double-digit wins since 2010. Swinney is back for his 18th season, but the questions around him are louder than they have been in years, especially with betting markets setting modest expectations and the Tigers trying to reset under a new-look offense led by returning coordinator Chad Morris.
A big part of that reset starts at quarterback, where Christopher Vizzina appears to have the inside track and freshman Tait Reynolds is applying pressure in camp. The job battle adds another layer to a season already defined by scrutiny, because Clemson does not need a miracle to calm things down so much as a solid rebound and a clearer identity, with the real line between relief and real concern still sitting out there as the schedule unfolds. [Read more 🡒]