CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Injuries Plague Tigers as USC Looms
Nick Eason is listed as doubtful for the USC game.

Injuries Plague Tigers as USC Looms


by - Correspondent -

CLEMSON - When Clemson and South Carolina face off for the 100th time in the

history of the series on Saturday, three Tigers may have to observe history

from the sidelines.

Defensive tackles Nick Eason (Achilles) and Todd McClinton (stinger), along

with offensive guard Cedric Johnson (stinger), all missed Tuesday's practice

and are listed as doubtful for Saturday.

"I'm operating as if I won't have those three," Bowden said. "It really hurts

your depth."

Eason has been nursing the Achilles injury all year, sitting out Monday

practices - and some Tuesdays - for the last five weeks. Up until Saturday,

however, he has always been able to play on game days. But against Maryland

he left early and never returned.

McClinton, of course, was immobilized and taken off the field on a stretcher

last Saturday after rolling up on his neck attempting to make a block. While

his injury was slightly more severe, it is the same that Johnson suffered

earlier in the Maryland game.

As it stands now, Donnell Washington and DeJuan Polk would start at the

defensive tackle slots and be backed up by Eric Coleman and Trey Tate.

Johnson would be replaced at guard by Nathan Gillespie, who filled in for him

Saturday and played more in three-plus quarters than he had in his entire

career at Clemson.

"He actually did pretty well," Bowden said. "He didn't do too bad at all."

Elsewhere on the injury front, defensive backs Travis Pugh, Jamaal Fudge

(charley horse) and fullback Chad Jasmin (groin) are expected to be ready to

go by Saturday.

All three were held out of practice Tuesday.

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