CLEMSON - Don't look now. The injuries are beginning to pile up again.
Half of Clemson's starting defensive line - end Khaleed Vaughn and tackle
Donnell Washington - missed practice Wednesday with various leg ailments. And
fullback Chad Jasmin appears to be destined to battle his groin injury for
the rest of the season.
All three appear to be at least questionable for Saturday's game at Virginia
(Noon, ESPN2).
Vaughn's injury is the most serious of the group. While rushing the
quarterback last Thursday at Florida State, he tripped and reaggrevated both
the knee and ankle injuries he suffered earlier this season.
Vaughn will miss practice today and Friday, and his status for Saturday will
be a game time decision.
"You see it on film and he really tripped himself," Clemson head coach Tommy
Bowden said following Wednesday's practice. "The knee's not as sore as the
ankle is, but it's the same injury as he suffered against (Louisiana Tech)."
If Vaughn is unable to go, Maurice Fountain will start in his spot with
redshirt freshman Charles Bennett playing behind him.
Meanwhile, Bowden reiterated his hopes of redshirting punter/kicker Cole
Chason five games into the season, but admitted if senior Wynn Kopp continues
to struggle that he will "have to find somebody."
The other possibility being mentioned is walk-on Kyle Tucker, but pressed on
the possibility of being forced into using Chason, Bowden responded with "I
might."
Kopp, who drew his coach's ire by dropping a punt snap for the second time in
a nationally-televised road game, has been taking 70 snaps a day during
practice the week, or twice his normal amount.
|
Major Injuries Over Last 2 Years |
| 2001
* Altroy Bodrick (LB) - Tore his ACL in a
preseason scrimmage Aug. 18, 2001. Red-shirted the season.
* Marcus Houskin (CB) - Suffered broken neck vs. Wofford that ended
career.
* Kevin Youngblood (WR) -
Suffered broken leg in Aug. 21, 2000 scrimmage. Did not play all year.
2002
* Derrick Brantley (OT)--Will not play for
the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in the second half against
Louisiana Tech.
* Toure Francis (CB)--Lost for the rest of the season after suffering
a torn ACL against Georgia in he season opener.
* Nick Black (OT)--Suffered broken left leg in the first half against
Florida State and is lost for the season.
* Roscoe Crosby (WR)--Out for the year after having Tommy John
Surgery this summer. Needed the surgery to continue his career as a
professional baseball player with the Kansas City Royals. Expected to return
in 2003. |
|
Dan Scott covers Clemson University for the Florence Morning News. He also hosts SportsTalk from 10 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Friday, on WCCP-Fm, 104.9. Click here for Dan Scott's SportsTalk discussion board.
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