Clemson’s interior defensive line is about to get a jolt.
After spending the start of the 2026 season sidelined by a torn ACL, transfer defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly is expected to return this weekend against Charleston Southern. Head coach Dabo Swinney has been pointing toward that possibility for weeks, and he said the Tigers have already started easing Kelly back into the mix.
“We kind of ramped him up last week,” he said. “He’s been getting competitive work, and so that’s got a chance to be a good shot in the arm for us down the stretch.”
That kind of reinforcement matters for a group that has not exactly been one of Clemson’s liveliest units so far. Kelly’s return should give the Tigers another body up front, and one with a chance to matter right away once he’s fully healthy.
Junior lineman Champ Thompson has seen the work Kelly has put in first-hand. The two worked together early on before Kelly’s injury, and Thompson said the comeback has been no small thing to watch.
“It’s awesome,” Thompson said. “It was awesome to see him put in the work and be able to try to get back as fast as he could.”
Kelly, a junior, was Clemson’s first transfer pickup in the 2026 cycle. The three-star transfer arrived from West Georgia, where he logged 17 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery in 12 games.
He redshirted in 2024. When he was healthy earlier this season, he drew attention as one of the Tigers’ most promising additions from the offseason.
Now, in Clemson’s sixth game of the year, that return appears close. The expectation is that fans will see Kelly taking snaps against Charleston Southern this weekend.
“I feel like he would definitely have an impact and can definitely help our defense out in that area,” Thompson said.
Swinney sounded confident too.
“He’s doing really good,” Swinney added. “We expect him to play.”
Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for noon, and the game will be shown on the ACC Network.
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