Clemson Just Lost O-Line Depth Before Camp Even Began

Clemson's roster takes an unexpected turn as a transfer lineman steps back due to medical constraints, prompting a shift in team dynamics just before the season kicks off.

Clemson’s roster took another hit this week when offensive lineman Danny Stein stepped away from football before the Tigers opened fall camp.

Stein, a walk-on transfer from Furman who arrived in the summer, was no longer listed on Clemson’s roster as of Wednesday. On Thursday, coach Dabo Swinney explained why: Stein had recently been medically disqualified from playing.

“He’s not going to be able to play,” Swinney said. “Good kid.”

Rather than remain on the football roster, Stein will stay at Clemson in an off-field student worker role while continuing to work toward his degree.

The Texas native spent the 2025 season as a walk-on at Furman, the FCS program in Greenville, before moving to Clemson as a walk-on transfer this summer. He carried a “designated student-athlete” tag, which, under the NCAA’s House settlement terms, allowed him to be on a college football roster without counting against the 105-man limit for the rest of his eligibility.

At 6-3 and 294 pounds, Stein was projected to serve as a deep backup and scout team option for the Tigers.

Clemson brought in several walk-on transfers this summer to round out the roster. With Stein no longer in the football picture, the Tigers have 121 total players: 97 on the 105-man roster and 24 designated student-athletes who do not count against it.

The Tigers begin 2026 fall camp on campus Thursday. Their season opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 5 at LSU in Baton Rouge, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

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