Anthony has surgery to repair wrist

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Jan 26 12:32:35 GMT-04:00 2013

Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony Stephone Anthony
So. Linebacker
#12 6-3, 235
Polkton, NC
View Full Profile recently had surgery to repair a broken bone is his left wrist, an injury that that he suffered early in the 2012 season.

Anthony showed flashes of his potential during his freshman campaign in 2011, registering 32 tackles and two sacks in a mostly backup role. He started the 2012 season as the starting middle linebacker, but was replaced as the starter by Spencer ShueySpencer Shuey
RS Jr. Linebacker
#33 6-3, 230
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile midway through the season.

However, he still finished third on the team in tackles with 76 and posted an interception in 444 snaps.

According to sources, he suffered the injury early in the season, but tests came back negative and he played through the pain. He played 56 snaps (7 tackles) against Auburn in the season opener, had 10 tackles against Ball St., had 10 tackles in 47 snaps against Furman, had 11 tackles in 73 snaps at Florida St. and had eight tackles in 71 snaps at Boston College.

Anthony played just 37 snaps the following week against Georgia Tech – registering five tackles – and saw limited snaps in each of the remaining games: Virginia Tech (22), Wake Forest (27), Duke (20), Maryland (29), N.C. State (5) and South Carolina (0). He had one assisted tackle against LSU in the bowl game.

Following the season, he had more tests that showed the injury had worsened, and he had surgery to repair the damage. He should be in a cast for four more weeks.

TigerNet spoke with Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile following Friday’s dedication ceremony for the new indoor practice facility, and he said that Anthony played through the pain and still has high hopes for the next two seasons.

“He has had two good years and has two great ones in front of him,” Swinney said. “He was banged up with his wrist, but that is part of it.”

Swinney then said that it helped create competition on the team.

“When Spencer Shuey got his opportunity, he played at a really high level,” he said. “That made it really competitive at that position, and I think that is what you want for your team, having those types of players on your depth chart is a good thing. Stephone is not a good player, he is a great player, and he has two good years in front of them and he will make the best of them.”

I asked Swinney if Anthony would be 100 percent by spring practice, and he said he hoped that the North Carolina native would be ready to go.

“I hope so. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be,” Swinney said.