Peake out for the season with torn ACL, testing Clemson's depth at wide receiver

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Sep 11 19:34:20 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON- Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile announced Wednesday evening that wide receiver Charone Peake Charone Peake
Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 200
Moore, SC
View Full Profile will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL during practice Tuesday.

The junior out of Dorman High School had eight catches for 84 yards during the season’s first two games, but suffered the injury during pass skeletons in Tuesday’s practice.

“Tough news on Charone Peake. He tore his ACL. I don’t know if y’all heard that yet or not. Yesterday in skelly, it was just kind of a freaky deal,” Swinney told the media after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s usually how those injuries happen, unfortunately. It’s a real shame for him because he was having a great year and was going to have a great year.

“Like I said, often time we don’t know why things happen and sometimes it’s hard for young people to understand that because it’s in the moment, but for the most part if you have the right mentality, the adversity in your life turns out to be some of the best things to happen you. As you mature, look back and can see the bigger picture, there will be something positive to come out of it- maybe it’s that he gets another year. I know this, he will be fine, come back better than ever and pick up where he left off.”

Peake has not had a redshirt year, and can apply for a medical redshirt. NCAA rules stipulate that a player can apply for a medical waiver if they haven’t participated in 30 percent of their team’s games – in football, that would be 3.6 games during a 12-game season.

“We’ll apply to see if we can get him a medical redshirt. He hasn’t redshirted yet, so we’ll see if we can get him this year back and he’ll be a junior again next year,” Swinney said. “He’s got plenty of people on this team that have been through the same thing. He will be just fine. It’s always tough for a young person when they have to come to grips with something like that because they love to play, but it’s something that they have to do. Our prayers are with Charone. We’ll get him well and get him back as soon as we can.

The Tigers will now look to Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Jr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 190
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile , who played with Peake at Dorman, as well as freshmen Germone HopperGermone Hopper
RS Fr. Wide Receiver
#5 6-0, 170
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile , T.J. GreenT.J. Green
Fr. Athlete
#82 6-2, 189
Sylacauga, AL
View Full Profile and Mike WilliamsMike Williams
Fr. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 205
Vance, SC
View Full Profile to take Peake’s spot.

“With that, other guys have to step up. It’s football, that’s just the way it is,” Swinney said. “It won’t be our last bit of adversity to deal with that’s for sure. In the course of a long season, you’ve got some adversity that teams have to overcome. We’re fortunate to have a guy like Adam that can slide right in that spot and get the job done. G-Hop {Hopper] is getting some good experience. Mike Williams, T.J. Green, Matt PorterMatt Porter
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#87 5-11, 190
Charleston, SC
View Full Profile and those guys- the depth is going to be key for us. We’ll get them all in the right spot and get back to work.”

The Tigers are already thin at wide receiver with only six scholarship players, but luckily the young players on the roster gained valuable experience last weekend against South Carolina State.

“Aboslutely. It’s important for a guy like G-Hop to go out and have a game like he had,” Swinney said. “And, for Mike and T.J. to go out and get some experience. We made that decision early that we were going to play those two freshmen just because it’s a long season and we don’t have great depth at wide out. Everybody thinks that we have all of these wide outs around here. We’ve got some pretty good players, but we don’t have a lot of depth. We’ve got six guys on scholarship now. Our number is 10 at the position, so we are under. That’s why receiver is a big need for us in this class. We’ve got what we’ve got and we’ll make it work.”

Offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile likes to cross-train his wide-outs so the older guys like Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile and Humphries can play every position on the field.

“Adam can play anywhere and he will slide into Charone’s spot as far as the first three that will run out there,” Swinney said. “Adam can also play the 2-man. Sammy can play the 9-man. G Hop can play the 2 and the 5. Mike and T.J. - we’ve got the training wheels on them right now. We’re not asking them to do a whole lot right now. Matt Porter can play anywhere too.”

On Roderick McDowellRoderick McDowell
Gr. Running Back
#25 5-9, 195
Sumter, SC
View Full Profile McDowell

“Rod is good. He’s practiced both days. He should be ready to go next week. We’ve kept him in green just because we didn’t want him to get him. He’s practiced. We just haven’t collisioned him. He feels good and looks good. I think by Sunday he’ll be back full speed.”

On MacKensie AlexanderMacKensie Alexander
Fr. Defensive Back
#2 5-11, 185
Immokalee, FL
View Full Profile

“We’ve just had him over with the trainers just rehabbing. He’s doing fine and getting a lot of work in. We’ve put him on ice and taken away that extra pressure of trying to get him back. When he’s back is when he’ll be ready.”