Clemson All-ACC safety returning for one more season
Clemson’s entire starting defense is returning for the 2021 season.
Tigers senior safety Nolan Turner announced on Instagram Sunday night that he is coming back to school for a sixth year.
He is able to do that after the NCAA decided last August to give all fall sport student-athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turner is the final Clemson starting defender to make a decision on his future. He joins senior linebacker James Skalski, junior linebacker Baylon Spector and junior cornerback Derion Kendrick as players who announced that they will return to school.
Turner had a breakout year in 2020, earning second-team All-American honors from USA Today. He was also named second-team All-ACC.
The Alabama native was second on Clemson’s team in tackles this year with 66, including six tackles for loss. He also led the Tigers with three interceptions.
While Clemson is returning all of its starters on defense, the Tigers are losing the majority of their production on offense.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, left tackle Jackson Carman and receivers Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell are all turning pro.
Clemson did get good news last week when star wideout Justyn Ross announced that he is returning to school. However, Ross still has some medical hurdles to clear to play in 2021. He missed the 2020 season after undergoing surgery for a congenital fusion in his spine.
This story was originally published January 18, 2021 at 8:32 AM.
