Clemson defender out for season with neck injury

Clemson defensive end Richard Yeargin will miss the 2017 season after suffering a neck injury in a car wreck over the weekend.

The rising junior was listed as a backup on Clemson’s summer depth but was expected to compete for a starting job during fall camp. At minimum, Yeargin would have provided depth for the Tigers’ defensive front.

“Richard suffered the same type of injury that Mike Williams had in 2015 as the result of an automobile accident over the weekend,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement. “The good news is that he will be fine long term. He will miss this season as he recovers.”

Yeargin played in 12 games in 2016 and recorded 14 tackles with four tackles for loss. He had a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries in Clemson’s win over No. 3 Louisville.

The Florida native missed the final two games of last season with an injury.

In 2015 Yeargin played in 10 games with 15 tackles and a sack.

Yeargin was a U.S. Army All-American in high school and was rated as a top 300 player in the country by 247Sports.

He had 85 tackles with 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks as a senior at University School of Nova.

Clemson’s defensive front should still be one of the best in the nation in 2017 as the Tigers return Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant.

However, Clemson will be without three of its top eight defensive linemen from last year in Yeargin, Carlos Watkins and Scott Pagano.

This story was originally published June 5, 2017 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Clemson defender out for season with neck injury."