Clemson Tigers News: Walker Parks, injury update and AP Top 25

Good morning, Clemson Nation! Here is today’s Clemson Tigers News

Scoreboard

Clemson Volleyball defeats Virginia Tech 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 14-10): The Tigers earn their first ACC victory of the 2023 season and their 900th program victory.

Aźyah Dailey and Kennedy Wagner each had 14 kills to lead the Tigers.

Adria Powell had an all-around great day with four service aces, eight kills and seven blocks.

Clemson is now 10-5 overall. They travel to Charlottesville Friday for a match with the Virginia Cavaliers.

Walker Parks will return in 2024

Clemson Football right guard Walker Parks didn’t get to play the senior season he anticipated. It was cut short by a season-ending injury.

Parks confirmed on X that he will be returning for his super senior season in 2024.

Dabo Swinney addresses state of the team Sunday night

Parks’s absence means Mitchell Mayes will need to step into the starting lineup for Clemson Football. Mayes was challenged by the Syracuse defense, who engaged in a lot of run blitzes. Swinney acknowledged this Sunday evening.

Trent Howard and freshman Harris Sewell got some reps at right guard on Saturday as well. We will need to keep an eye on the depth chart at right guard to see if anyone steps up to take that spot from Mayes.

On the injury front, Swinney indicated that Antonio Williams and Nate Wiggins are improving, but stopped short of saying they would definitely return against Wake Forest.

I think if there is any doubt about either, it is likely they will sit out this weekend and return following the bye week when the Tigers take on Miami.

Clemson Football not ranked, but LSU is?

Morgan Thomas on X asked what it would take for the media to look past the Duke and FSU losses. Noting that it ultimately took a win over a ranked opponent in 2021 for Clemson to return to the AP Top 25, I said it would take wins over Syracuse, Wake Forest and ranked opponent Miami.

As such, I think it was expected that a road win over Syracuse wouldn’t be enough to return them to the Top 25. I was a bit surprised to see the AP still had LSU ranked following their loss to Ole Miss.

As David Hale explains, this just doesn’t make sense.