Clemson freshman Will Taylor out for season with knee injury

CLEMSON — The Clemson offense will be without a versatile playmaker for the rest of the 2021 season.

Freshman receiver/quarterback Will Taylor is out for the year with a knee injury, a source told ClemsonSports on Monday. Dabo Swinney confirmed Monday evening on his teleconference that Taylor is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Taylor was injured during the first quarter of Saturday’s 19-13 victory over Boston College. He was one of several players to leave the game against the Eagles and not return.

Taylor ends his freshman season with 5 carries for 20 yards and 2 receptions for 6 yards. He was also Clemson’s primary punt returner and had a long return of 51 yards this year.

“Just been a crazy year from that standpoint. Like most ACLs, noncontact… seen it a million times,” Swinney said. “He’s a resilient young man. We’ve had a lot of success with guys getting back around here. Hopefully Will will be able to get back and get some of the baseball season in this spring.”

The former Dutch Fork High star came to Clemson to play baseball and football after turning down millions and an opportunity to be a first-round pick in the MLB Draft.

“A lot of people told me I was crazy, but for me, it was more than just money,” Taylor said earlier this season of his decision to come to Clemson. “It was the experience. … The college experience was too hard to turn down. I’m really satisfied with my decision.”

It seems unlikely that Taylor will be ready for the start of baseball season, according to a source, but there is hope that he can return at some point during his freshman year.

Taylor contributed immediately this season after arriving on campus this summer.

He played a snap at quarterback and returned punts in Clemson’s opener against Georgia.

A week later against SC State he had 5 carries for 20 yards and returned a punt 51 yards in a victory over the Bulldogs.

He earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance against SC State.

Taylor is a dynamic outfielder and hitter in baseball who can hit for power and average. He is incredibly fast, which is part of what made him so attractive to MLB scouts.