Dabo Swinney was going through a couple of his old recruiting notebooks in his office this morning when he came across an old picture of defensive back Cordrea Tankersley and defensive Shaq Lawson from when the two were playing at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia during their one season in prep school.

The two, who have become productive players in No. 5 Clemson’ nationally ranked defense, were in the picture with their Hargrave Jersey’s on.

“When I came into the team meeting today, sure enough Cordrea and Shaq were actually sitting next to each other,” Swinney said. “I just held (the picture) up and said, ‘Hey boys, don’t forget where you came from’ because both of those guys were in tears, literally, in tears in my office when they were having to go to prep school with the disappointment.

“But now when you look at them … they grew through that and both of them are doing exceptionally well.”

Lawson leads the Tigers with 10.5 tackles for a loss through five games this year, including 3.5 sacks. Tankersley leads the team with two interceptions and four passes broken up, while recording 15 tackles as well.

“That experience really made them who they are today,” Swinney said.

A new born Clemson Tiger. He might have told the coaching staff the wrong day his second son, Ace, was being delivered, but Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was on hand Wednesday morning when his wife, Tamika, delivered the couple’s second child this morning at Greenville’s St. Francis Hospital.

Ace weighed in at seven pounds and nine ounces and was 19 inches long, according to Swinney.

On Monday, Elliott told the media how he forgot the delivery date was moved up and that caused him to tell the staff the wrong day. Of course when Tamika discovered her husband did that, she was not a happy mama.

“I did get in a little bit of trouble for that because I did not pay attention enough to know the date was moved up on me,” Elliott said.

Elliott did okay, however. He was by his wife’s side at the hospital Wednesday morning, though he did attend practice in the afternoon before rejoining mom and their new born child immediately after.

“It was fun watching everybody scramble around today trying to fill the void,” Swinney said while grinning. “You don’t realize how much one guy means until they are plucked out, but the staff did a great job stepping in today. Terry Allen and Diamond Adams did a good job, too.”

Injury updates. Swinney said defensive back Ryan Carter will not play in Saturday’s game against Boston College. He has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Carter has played in all five games for the Tigers this year. He has seven tackles and two passes broken up.

Reserve center Zach Riggs will also miss the game due to a knee injury he suffered in practice this week.