Vic Burley’s status is the one Clemson injury note worth watching as the Tigers head into Saturday night’s home showdown with Virginia Tech.
Burley was listed as a game-time decision, making his availability a true toss-up for Clemson’s biggest game of the season so far. The backup defensive tackle was a late addition to the ACC injury report earlier in the week, and his situation comes after a start to the year that’s already been bumpy. He missed Clemson’s first two games because of an indefinite suspension and has produced one fumble recovery and one sack in four games.
Even if Burley is cleared, Clemson is unlikely to lean on him heavily. The expectation is that he would not be getting his usual share of around 10 snaps, which makes the rest of the defensive tackle rotation even more important. That puts more weight on Amare Adams, Andy Burburija, Darien Mayo, Champ Thompson and Kourtney Kelly.
Final availability report update: Clemson backup DT Vic Burley is listed as a “game-time decision” for tonight’s Virginia Tech game. Burley was the only notable lingering injury for Tigers this week
- Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 24, 2026
The timing matters because Clemson is staring at a season-defining night. A win over Virginia Tech would move the Tigers to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in ACC play.
A loss would drop them to three defeats and likely knock them out of the race to get to Charlotte. In that context, Burley’s uncertain status is another reminder that Clemson can’t count on him right now.
There was at least one encouraging moment last week when Burley picked up his first sack of the season against Charleston Southern, but that came in garbage time against an FCS opponent. Burley arrived with a reputation as Clemson’s most talented defensive tackle, yet a late-summer arrest and that two-game suspension have left him buried on the depth chart midway through the season.
That means Tom Allen has had to work with the pieces available, and he’s had almost two months to settle on a rotation. Adams and Burburija became the Week 1 starters out of necessity, and while they have held up, Mayo and Thompson have now been added as co-starters, giving the group a patched-together feel.
Clemson will need the defense to function across all three levels to keep Virginia Tech in check. Will Heldt is a name to watch for pressure on Ethan Grunkemeyer, and if he can’t get home, Allen may need London Merritt or Caden Story to create problems in the backfield. The Tigers have to keep the Hokies behind schedule.
For now, anything Burley provides against Virginia Tech should be treated as a bonus. Clemson has bigger things riding on the night, and with Allen calling the defense, the Tigers believe they have the kind of unit that can rise to the moment. The offense, though, will need to help, too.
Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if Burley ended up around a big play for Clemson in Week 8.
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