By Ed McGranahan.

At this juncture, after one practice in full armor, there shouldn’t be any loss of traction if right tackle Giff Timothy misses much practice.

It could result in the acceleration of the development of three promising freshmen, a story line likely to become familiar this season as Clemson reloads in the trenches.

Timothy, a redshirt sophomore, sustained a knee injury Wednesday that, at first glance, didn’t appear serious but necessitated deeper examination.

Next on the depth chart, Joe Gore should instantly see the majority of the work with the starters, but don’t discount the looming, presence of Isaiah Battle or the versatility of backup left tackle Shaq Anthony. Dabo Swinney also ticked off the names of a couple others that could potentially slide into a role at tackle in a pinch.

It must be comforting to realize he won’t need to wave a wand over a walk-on tight end to divine a tackle. Nothing against Phillip Price, but twice in seven years (remember Jesse Pickens) is too frequent.

Recruiting isn’t the salve for all cuts and bruises. Antoine McClain and Kenneth Page would be in their fifth years with classmate Dalton Freeman, the starting center in 36 of the last 40 games. But McClain was pressed into duty immediately and never took a redshirt. And Page, of the Facebook photo with a fistful of currency, bolted midway through his redshirt freshman season.

The next year’s class – Swinney’s dirty dozen – included J.K. Jay, Brandon Thomas and Tyler Shatley. An offseason weight room injury ended Jay’s career before it started. A four-star tackle at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, he finished school last year and is attending law school in Columbia. Thomas, the next most experienced of the few returning linemen, could be the starting left tackle — or left guard, if Gore, Battle, Anthony or even Gifford push the envelope.

Shatley is the feel good story of the group. Projected as a fullback or hybrid tight end in the Chad Diehl mold, Shatley was moved to defensive tackle as a freshman where he has started two games, played in 26 over two seasons.

The idea of starting three relatively inexperienced players on the offensive line was discomforting. Swinney saw in Shatley a stout, tested body, strong and smart. Even though he hadn’t played on the offensive line since grade school, Shatley looked like the best prospect.

After a reasonably successful transition during the spring, Shatley has only reinforced Swinney’s faith in him. “I think it’s a quantum leap. You have a guy who’s among the most respected guys on the team who has played a lot of football for us,” Swinney said. “We’re way ahead of where we would have been if we hadn’t have had him there.

“We got better in a hurry when we got Tyler Shatley over there.”