During his Zoom conference call with the media Monday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced that two Tigers will be out for the rest of the season.

Swinney said redshirt sophomore linebacker Kobe McCloud is done for the year and will need surgery on his knee, and redshirt sophomore safety Caleb Nix is out for the year with a knee injury as well.

“Kobe, a very important player for us, and then Caleb, a starter on all of our special teams and a backup safety guy for us,” Swinney said. “But just two great kids, and you just hate it for those guys, so some other guys will have to step up in those roles.”

McCloud, who posted a tackle in the season opener against Georgia, entered this season credited with 16 career tackles (3.5 for loss) and a forced fumble in 93 career snaps over 13 games (two starts).

Nix, who joined Clemson as a walk-on in 2022, entered this season having appeared in eight career games and made his 2024 season debut in Saturday’s game vs. Appalachian State.

“You just hate it for these guys because they put so much into it,” Swinney said. “But those of us that have played the game, you know that’s part of it, too.”