What Clemson said about Bresee, Skalski, Shipley injuries
Clemson lost more than just a game to North Carolina State on Saturday.
The Tigers finished the game without three of their key players in the 27-21 double overtime loss to the Wolfpack. Running back Will Shipley left the game in the first overtime, while linebacker James Skalski and Bryan Bresee exited earlier in the game. All three didn’t return.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney didn’t elaborate on the injuries to the three players after the game. He said Shipley injured his knee but isn’t sure the extent of it.
“We got what we got. We can’t go sign free agents right now, so it’s what we got. Hopefully, it’s not something that’s going to have him out for any amount of time or whatever, but if it is, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Swinney said. “We’ll go back to work with the guys that we have ... Obviously changes things for him.”
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables got choked up when asked about losing Skalski and Bresee in the game. The defense already was missing defensive lineman Tyler Davis, who didn’t play because of an injury.
“You hurt for them,” Venables said. “I know how hard they work and how they love to compete and love their brothers and love the game. You hate that for them. But we have good young talented guys and that gave them an opportunity to step up, and I was proud of their efforts as well.”
Shipley, the standout freshman from Weddington High School in North Carolina, was helped off the field and taken straight to the locker room. The highly-touted recruit took over as the team’s top running back. He came into the game as the team’ leading rusher with 175 yards and a TD and also rushed for 34 yards and a score on Saturday.
Skalski left the game in the second quarter and was stationed by defensive coordinator Brent Venables for much of the second half. LaVonta Bentley replaced Skalski at Mike linebacker.
Skalski, the team’s vocal leader on defense, came into Saturday’s game as the team’s leader in tackles (27) and snaps played (164).
Bresee exited with 9:09 left in the third quarter. He was taken to the medical tent and later came out with what appeared to be an ice pack around his knee.
The sophomore and former five-star recruit came into the game with 13 tackles, three for loss and 1 ½ sacks.
“It is tough. James is passionate about getting the calls in and getting people where they should be lined up,” Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector said. “Bryan is Bryan. He is very disruptive and obviously going to be a great player. I’m praying for him because he is hurting right now and so is Jamie. I know they wish they could be out there. It is tough.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2021 at 8:24 PM.
