The Clemson Tigers were awarded the top seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff. That playoff run will have to be done without wide receiver Mike Williams. On Sunday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Williams will not play in Clemson’s postseason games but does intend on returning to the team in 2016.
“I think that’s a great decision by him,” Swinney said, according to TigerNet.com. “He will be back next year.”
Williams suffered a small fracture in his neck area in Clemson’s season-opening victory over Wofford when he crashed into the goal post trying to make a touchdown catch in the back of the endzone. That injury brought a quick and premature end to the junior’s 2015 season. In 2014, as a sophomore, Williams was Clemson’s leading receiver with 1,030 yards and six touchdowns (second on the team).
Clearly, Clemson has found a way to survive without Williams on the field. The Tigers completed an undefeated season with a victory over North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night, and Clemson has been named the number one team in the College Football Playoff. That said, having Williams healthy and ready to return to action in 2016 should be a great addition to Clemson’s offense. Had he not been injured this season, Williams could have made the jump into the NFL Draft in the spring.
