The Clemson Tigers held their first live game of fall camp Saturday.
Afterwards, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney gave injury updates for starting safety Khalil Barnes and cornerback Jeadyn Lukus, as well as offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington.
“Pennington was there,” Swinney told reporters afterwards. “(Lukus) is probably more like Monday. Tuesday he should be back rolling. We’ll see where he’s at.”
While Barnes was a no-go Saturday, Swinney praised the safeties group in his absence.
“Safeties have actually been a bright spot for us,” he said. “I try to find the good in everything. I hate that Khalil has been out for a few days, but it’s kind of forced the opportunity for Ronan (Hanafin) and Ricardo (Jones) and Kylon Griffin. (Rob) Billings and (Kylen) Webb and those guys are getting a ton of work.”
Barnes has been dealing with what Swinney called a “short-term” injury after Wednesday’s practice. He started all all 14 games last year and had four interceptions and three pass breakups. That followed a standout freshman season as an All-American in which he had five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and six pass breakups.
“Our safety group has actually been a really bright spot at camp even with Khalil not out there,” Swinney said. “We all know what he is and what he can do. We’ll get him back at some point, but I think that group as a whole, the arrow’s up by them. Good competition.”
Lukus, a senior who started 10 games at cornerback a season ago and had 34 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups, was in a yellow, no-contact jersey a day not long after fall camp opened on July 30.
Swinney also revealed that a top freshman, defensive lineman Amare Adams, was held out of Saturday’s scrimmage.
“He kind of sprained his ankle a little bit yesterday… so he wasn’t able to go today, but he’ll be back soon,” Swinney…
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