Head coach Dabo Swinney delivered some positive news for the Clemson football team during his weekly radio show Monday night.
The Tigers will be getting a reinforcement at the defensive tackle position soon.
Swinney announced that senior defensive tackle Vic Burley will be reinstated from his indefinite suspension on Monday.
Burley won’t play this Saturday vs. Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium, but will be available for the following game – Clemson’s ACC opener vs. North Carolina at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
“We brought him back today,” Swinney said of Burley. “He will not play this weekend, but he’ll be reinstated on Monday and be available for next week’s game.”
On Saturday, Aug. 22, Burley was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after he was allegedly found asleep at 2:15 a.m. by officers in his truck with the vehicle running. He was released the following day.
After the arrest, Swinney announced Burley was suspended indefinitely.
Two weeks ago, Burley pleaded guilty to public disorderly conduct and was granted a conditional discharge by Judge Lindsey Simmons.
Burley made a public apology following the arrest:
“I let you down, and I take full responsibility for my actions that night. You have all invested so much in me, and I understand I have some work to do to earn back your trust − but I promise you, I will.
“I also want to acknowledge the Clemson University police officers involved. I understand how difficult and thankless their job can be,, and I’m grateful for how professionally and respectfully they treated me, even in a moment I wasn’t at my best. That’s not something I take for granted, and I’m sorry they had to deal with me at all that night.”
A former five-star talent, Burley is in his fourth season with the Tigers, and the expectation was he’d be ready for a much larger role during the coming season. However, an injury kept him out for much of camp, and almost as soon as he returned, he was suspended.
Over his first three seasons, Burley is credited with 24 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup, having logged 267 defensive snaps over 21 career games (one start).
–Jason Priester contributed to this story