Two of the top players in Clemson’s 2016 recruiting class, linebacker Shaq Smith and defensive end Xavier Kelly, were not listed on the depth chart for the season opener against Kent State.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Tuesday that there is no reason to panic about the omissions.
Smith was not one of eight linebackers listed, while Kelly was not included among the five defensive ends.
“They’re on our depth chart. I list them all on the depth chart,” Swinney said. “That’s the bad part of recruiting, is if a guy’s not some phenom as a true freshman or a redshirt freshman it’s, ‘What’s wrong?