Clemson receiver out for the year after ‘serious’ back injury, hospital stay
One of Clemson football’s best offensive players dodged a bullet after suffering what coach Dabo Swinney described Monday as a “very serious” back injury.
But receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. won’t play again this season.
During his Monday night teleconference, Swinney gave a substantial update on the status of Wesco following a scary fall he took in Saturday’s SMU game that resulted in him being transferred to a local hospital 45 minutes away in Greenville.
Wesco was released from the hospital Monday morning.
“Really, just prayers answered,” Swinney said. “Just a blessing. Kind of a best-case scenario. It was a very, very scary injury, and the doctors did an amazing job. ... Again, a very scary injury and a lot of unknowns for the first 24 hours.”
Swinney added that Wesco is expected to make a “full recovery.”
More details on Wesco injury
Wesco was injured while returning a punt at the 10:16 mark of the third quarter of Clemson’s loss to SMU at Memorial Stadium. After catching a bouncing punt on the run, Wesco advanced the ball six yards before getting tackled and upended.
He flew into the air upside down and landed almost directly on his head/neck area. Wesco popped up off the ground quickly after the play and jogged to Clemson’s sideline but did not return to the game.
“I don’t have any info on Wesco right now,” Swinney said postgame. “It was a pretty serious deal. I have no information on him right now. Just have to wait and see.”
Swinney also confirmed Wesco was taken to a local hospital. Asked if Wesco had suffered a head/neck injury, Swinney said he did not want to speculate on what the receiver’s injury was and encouraged fans to “keep him in your prayers.”
On Monday, Swinney said Wesco had suffered a back injury. He declined to give additional details but said there was no fracture. Former Clemson receivers Justyn Ross and Mike Williams both suffered spine fracture injuries in their careers.
“You didn’t have a fracture or anything,” Swinney said. “It’s not a Justyn Ross situation. It’s not a Mike Williams situation. We’ve dealt with those. But it was a very, very serious injury and he’s fortunate. Very fortunate.”
Wesco, 20, is a former top 50 national recruit from Midlothian, Texas. A preseason All-ACC selection, he had started every game for Clemson at outside receiver and leads the team in catches (31), yards (537) and touchdown catches (six).
Wesco posted the following message on Instagram on Monday: “Thank you to everyone sending your prayers. I really appreciate everyone’s help and support! It means the world to me.”
Swinney on Monday publicly thanked Dr. Charles Kanos and his team at Prisma Health Greenville for how they took care of Wesco. Kanos works for the organization’s Southeastern Neurosurgical and Spine Institute and specializes in, among other things, spinal surgery. Swinney didn’t say if Wesco had had surgery.
Wesco came home from the hospital Monday and was resting at his usual Clemson residence. Swinney said they hope to get him into the football facility Tuesday.
“The doctors are very confident he’ll make a full recovery,” Swinney said. “Definitely something that’ll keep him out the rest of this season, but thankful that all indications are he’s gonna be OK. Just a real blessing for that.”
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM.
