Senior Day at Clemson is always a special day.

However, this years will hit a little different for some players on the roster. Due to new rules surrounding roster limits that will go into effect for next season, Dabo Swinney will be forced to cut a number of guys from his roster.

The new rule limits rosters to just 105 players and the Tigers currently have well over that number on the team when you factor in walk-on players. That means the head coach has had to have some difficult conversations ahead of this year’s senior day festivities.

“Obviously, we have to cut a lot of guys this year,” Swinney said. “It’s terrible. It’s the worst thing in my whole coaching career.”

Clemson has a list of 31 players that are expected to be honored on Senior Day, with only around ten of those being scholarship players. That means the rest are walk-ons, many that still have another year of eligibility remaining.

“We’ve got to cut a bunch of kids that have been in our program,” Swinney added. “I have given all of them the option, if they are a fourth year, then they have the option of being honored as a senior. They have earned that.”

It’s another example of the “unintended consequences” Swinney has talked about due to the ever-changing landscape and numerous rules changes the sport is currently experiencing.

With the head coach being a former walk-on himself during his playing days at Alabama, Swinney fully understands the journey each and every one of those players have experienced while at Clemson. That’s also why walk-ons at Clemson are treated differently than they might be in some other programs across the country.

While many, including Swinney, will be excited to celebrate seniors like Barrett Carter, Phil Mafah, Jake Briningstool, Marcus Tate, Tre Williams, Payton Page, R.J. Mickens and DeMonte Capehart, it’s some of those other guys that are scheduled to walk down that hill that the head coach might feel for the most.

“Some of these kids would have been back for their fifth year and they are not going to have the opportunity to do that,” Swinney said. “That is sad, but that is the way it is.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!