Clemson junior running back Zac Brooks is out for the season with a foot injury.
Coach Dabo Swinney said Brooks, the team’s most complete running back and one pegged for an expanded role this season with Roderick McDowell gone.
“This is a big loss because he is reliable in all phases of the game,” Swinney said.
Clemson enters the season with new starters at running back, quarterback and wide receiver, where stud All-American Sammy Watkins might prove to be the most difficult to replace.
Brooks hurt his shoulder as a freshman and re-injured it last season. He was the team’s leading returning rusher with 246 yards in 2013. However, Swinney said earlier in the week that running back is one of the team’s deepest positions.
“This is the deepest group we’ve had around here in a long time,” he said. “The one group I’m not worried about is running back. We’re going to be just fine right there. We’ve got some good football players. Some really, really good football players.”