The Clemson Tigers just suspended a key player, and it makes things that much more challenging.
The Clemson Tigers should have a pretty good defense this season, as they have quite a few potential first-round talents as well as some intriguing pieces along the unit.
But Clemson was just dealt a massive blow in that area over the weekend.
Right after defensive tackle Vic Burley returned to fall camp after missing a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury, he was arrested for disorderly conduct. Dabo Swinney then made the decision to suspend him.
“Earlier today, I was made aware of defensive tackle Vic Burley’s arrest by the Clemson University Police Department for disorderly conduct early Saturday morning. I have made the decision to suspend Vic from our football team indefinitely. We are extremely disappointed by his actions and decisions," Swinney said in a statement.
The Tigers' defensive tackle room was already a point of contention before Burley's ban, and Swinney has made that clear in recent days. In fact, he called the competitors at the position a bunch of "nobodies."
Burley, an imposing presence who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 315 pounds, was expected to compete for a starting job, or at least a significant role in the trenches.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Vic Burley. Credit: USA TODAY Network.Now, it looks like he might not be with the team at all in 2026.
A former four-star recruit, Burley arrived at Clemson in 2024 and saw only scarce playing time over his first couple of seasons, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering the Tigers had Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart on the interior.
But now, with Woods and Capehart both in the NFL, Clemson is searching for answers at defensive tackle, and Burley represented a potential solution.
Unfortunately, the Tigers can now cross him off their list and will have to mostly rely on the triumvirate of Markus Strong, Amare Adams and Andy Burburija to man the position.
Defensive tackle is arguably the most unsettled area for Clemson heading into the regular season, and Burley's suspension did not make that any easier.
Strong and Burburija are both transfer additions. Adams is a former five-star recruit who barely played during his freshman campaign in 2025, and he apparently hasn't impressed Swinney all that much this summer.
Hopefully, the Tigers are able to find answers, or else their entire defense could face major problems because of their lack of a presence at DT.
