Clemson’s defensive line took another hit Saturday morning when Vic Burley was arrested for disorderly conduct and suspended indefinitely by the program.
Dabo Swinney announced the decision in a statement, saying, "Earlier today, I was made aware of defensive tackle Vic Burley's arrest by the Clemson University Police Department for disorderly conduct early Saturday morning," Swinney said in a statement. "I have made the decision to suspend Vic from our football team indefinitely. We are extremely disappointed by his actions and decisions."
Burley had been entering what would have been his fourth season with Clemson and was expected to start along the defensive line. That made him a key piece in a position group Swinney has already been openly frustrated with, especially because no one had emerged as a clear leader.
The setback lands after a difficult summer for Burley, who missed most of fall camp with an undisclosed injury before briefly returning late in camp. Now, he’s out of Clemson’s plans for the foreseeable future, and the timing could hardly be worse with the season close.
Tom Allen’s defense is now even thinner up front. Junior college transfer Andy Burburija could be an immediate contributor, but the depth behind him is a concern, with sophomores Champ Thompson and Makhi Williams Lee next in line. On the other side, sophomore Amare Adams and Oklahoma transfer Markus Strong will face added pressure.
That leaves Clemson needing more from its pass rush to help cover for the loss. When the Tigers are at their best on defense, the front line is creating disruption. The team does have talent at linebacker, on the edge and in the secondary, but the defensive line now looks like the biggest question mark.
The situation comes just two weeks before Clemson opens the season on the road at LSU. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Tigers as 10.5-point underdogs to Lane Kiffin's Bayou Bengals, and Burley’s absence only adds to the challenge facing Allen and his unit.
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