CLEMSON – Clemson may get a boost to its defensive line at some point in the near future.

At his press conference Tuesday, Tigers’ head coach Dabo Swinney was asked about defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly’s progress following a spring knee injury.

“He’s coming,” Swinney said. “He’ll be sooner rather than later.”

Swinney did not give direct specifics about the nature of the lineman’s exact timeline to returning to play, but said that he “sees him every day” in practice and can attest to his progress and will to compete.

After joining the Tigers out of the transfer portal last winter, Kelly has yet to play a game for Clemson after tearing his ACL in a spring scrimmage in mid-March. The knee was repaired one day later.

Last season at the University of West Georgia, Kelly notched 17 tackles, including nine for loss and four sacks. Standing at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Kelly also recovered a fumble for the Wolves.

After Kelly’s injury, which defensive coordinator Tom Allen called a “tough, tough blow” for the Tigers’ defense, Clemson also lost fellow defensive tackle Markus Strong due to a lower-leg injury during the season-opening game against LSU. Unlike Kelly, Strong will be unlikely to return this season after undergoing surgery last week. 

Another defensive tackle, Vic Burley, who was suspended indefinitely ahead of the season, will be available to return in Clemson’s ACC opener against North Carolina this weekend, helping to bandage some of the losses to a vulnerable unit.

With Kelly returning “sooner” than maybe fans expected after an ACL injury – which can require up to a year-long recovery – the Tigers’ defensive line may soon add some more depth, especially as Burley gets back into a game routine.

In the meantime, Swinney says that Andy Burburija has been a “space-eater,” Devarrick Woods was solid enough to be promoted to “co-starter” and Amare Adams has potential to be an “alpha in the room.”

Based on Swinney’s words, it appears that Kelly will get his chance to join the fray this season.