Clemson Football: Tigers offensive lineman out for season

However far Clemson football makes it this season, they’ll have to do it without one of their starting offensive linemen.

Marcus Tate, who’s started all 11 games this season, injured his knee in the Miami game and Dabo Swinney announced Sunday that he’s out for the season.

According to Swinney, the injury is not an ACL or MCL, but will keep Tate out the rest of this season and likely limit him in the spring.

Tate is a sophomore that is much improved this season, according to Swinney.

According to PFF.com Tate allowed 3 sacks and 9 pressures in 353 opportunities this season and played a total of 712 snaps at left guard.

Mitchell Mayes is expected to replace Tate at left guard, but Mayes has only 74 snaps at the position this season per PFF.com.

Mayes is a versatile, 6’3, 315-pound junior from Raleigh, North Carolina who has played everywhere but center along the line this season.

Clemson football loses a starting offensive lineman for the season as the playoff push hits

The injury is unfortunate for the Tigers as they make their final push for the College Football Playoff.

Clemson takes on arch-rival South Carolina Saturday and then North Carolina on December 3 in the ACC Championship Game.

The events of this past Saturday have vaulted Clemson to a number 7 ranking in the AP Poll and there are those that believe should Clemson win out their final two games they will make the playoff.

There are things that need to happen for that to occur in my mind, but none are unrealistic, but the Tigers need to take care of job one – winning the games in front of them and winning them convincingly as they did Saturday night against Miami.

South Carolina is coming off their best win in some time, a 63-28 thrashing of Tennessee, while North Carolina was upset by Georgia Tech 21-17 and takes on North Carolina State this coming weekend.