CLEMSON — Sometimes things just happen for a reason.

There is no rhyme or reason, things just happen, especially when playing a physically challenging game like football. Injuries happen and those teams that can adjust the quickest are usually the ones that come out on top.

Heading into fall camp, there was concern about fourth-ranked Clemson’s depth in the secondary. Did the Tigers have enough quality depth to survive an injury?

The only true way to answer that question is, and it’s unfortunate, is to have someone get injured.

Such was the case in the first week of camp for Clemson, as starting safety Khalil Barnes suffered an injury that has had him out the last couple of weeks. The injury is not supposed to be serious, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Barnes’ injury has forced other safeties to step up, and they have.

“There is a lot of competition there. There just is and that is a good thing,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I know sometimes people want, ‘Oh, this is the guy and this is the guy.’  I like it when we have a bunch of guys. That is kind of how I like it personally.”

Barnes and Kylon Griffin were the projected starters at safety for the Tigers coming into camp, but Barnes’ injury and the emergence of guys like Ronan Hanafin, Rob Billings and Kylen Webb have added to the depth, which also includes Ricardo Jones and Tyler Venables.

“When we got a bunch of guys that I trust to go play, it makes me sleep a lot better,” Swinney said. “You are not worried about one guy grabbing an ankle and all of sudden there is a Grand Canyon drop off.

“I like it when we have dudes. I kind of liked it when we had Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson rotating in. That was pretty good. I liked it when we had Grady Jarrett, D.J. Reader and Carlos Watkins. I like it when we can rotate these receivers that we got and these (running) backs. We got a lot of good depth, and safety is the same.”

Swinney says the Tigers have a bunch of safeties that have played, but they also got a bunch of guys that have shown they can be a factor this coming season.

“Like Ronan for example,” Swinney said. “He has had a really good camp and we moved him, I think game week, right before game week last year and I wish I did it earlier. But he looks different.

“This time last year he was trying to figure out which way is left, right and up and down. Now, he looks the part. He is in the mix.”

Swinney says redshirt freshman Joe Wilkinson has had a nice camp, as well. He also explained that Webb has changed his body and made a big jump thanks to a very productive camp.

Then there is Venables, Clemson’s “security blanket,” who can play anywhere and gives the unit a good veteran presence.

“We got a deep group of guys that we think can play,” Swinney said.