CLEMSON – Injuries have plagued the Clemson defensive line in 2023, and it’s forced them to test their depth on many occasions. The latest was against NC State, and the Tigers rolled out a player with expectations to medical redshirt with five games to play before Saturday.

Redshirt junior Tre Williams was limited throughout fall camp after shoulder surgery, and hadn’t played through seven games as Clemson was taking their time with his recovery. Plans changed quickly with both Justin Mascoll and Peter Woods out against the Wolfpack.

Williams was informed of the news Monday from defensive tackles coach Nick Eason. He looked down at his phone and saw the text, then said to himself “alright then” with a smile.

“Coach definitely told me at the beginning of the year. Hey, the plan is to redshirt but if we need you, we need you. So I just tried to make sure that I stayed ready…just made sure I was ready for whenever my number was called,” Williams said.

He was slotted into the rotation on a Tigers defense that was ferocious, giving up just 202 yards. Two big plays ruined an otherwise dominant outing, and Williams took all his snaps at defensive tackle in Carter-Finley Stadium.

After not playing yet this season, Williams wasn’t bothered by any thoughts of rust. He doesn’t want to make the moment too big and “it’s time to go do your job” when he takes the field for Clemson.

“That first play is when you get everything like hmm, alright bet, then we’re good. So once I got that, it was just like riding a bike. Just all over again, this is where I love to be at, this is what I love to do so it was very easy,” William said.

To be eligible for a medical hardship redshirt, a player can’t compete in any more than four games, and taking the field against NC State leaves four games on the schedule with three that he can play in. Williams reiterated that the plan hasn’t changed for him to redshirt, and the Tigers will have to decide which game he’ll sit out.