Clemson Injury Update: Tigers Down Starter on Offense, Defense at South Carolina

Clemson will be without a pair of starters against South Carolina on Saturday night. 

Tigers' defensive end Xavier Thomas and receiver E.J. Williams were both listed on the official unavailible list released before the game. Thomas suffered a hamstring injury that forced him out of last week's game against Wake Forest as well while Williams had been listed as day-to-day all week. 

Thomas, who suffered the injury on Nov. 13, is one of Clemson's top edge rushers, producing 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss on the season. Justin Mascoll, who has 11 tackles on the seaosn but none for a loss, is the likely starter at Thomas' position.

Williams is out for the second consecutive game. Will Brown is listed behind him on the depth chart for this week, but Will Swinney made the spot start against Wake Forest. The absence of Williams, who has nine catches for 66 yards in nine games this year, leaves the Tigers low on receivers. 

Clemson will also be without backup linebacker LaVonta Bentley. 

In an injury-riddled season, the Tigers do have a healthy backfield of Will Shipley and Kobe Pace for the second consecutive game. That duo rushed for over 100 yards each last week and will be a huge part of Clemson's hopes of winning its seventh consecutive game in the series against the Gamecocks. 

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