Pinstripe Bowl primer: Klubnik in, but Clemson to be without many starters vs. Penn State, Dabo says

Clemson will be without numerous starters and nearly 30 players total for the Tigers’ Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Penn State. Head coach Dabo Swinney said that some will sit out due to injuries while others will be absent due to either declaring for the NFL Draft or having plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2. The names to know include starting guard Collin Sadler, top receiver Antonio Williams, and star defenders Peter Woods (a defensive lineman), DeMonte Capehart (defensive tackle), TJ Parker (defensive end), Wade Woodaz (linebacker), Khalil Barnes (‘Rover), and Aveion Terrell (cornerback).

“Nobody cares. It’s next man up, and I’m excited to see these guys step up and go play,” Swinney said Monday. “And man, I’m fired up. We’ve had good preparation so far. We’re locked in. Not worried about who opted out. We’re focused on who opted in. That’s our focus, who’s opted in, and who’s finishing this game.

“We’re just trying to win the game. That’s all we’re going to do, just trying to get an eighth win. Whatever we got to do to win.”

Starting quarterback Cade Klubnik is expected to suit up for Clemson. And, star defensive end Will Heldt will, as well.

Who is out for Penn State?

Penn State will be without starting safety Zakee Wheatley, defensive tackle Zane Durant, and guard Vega Ioane, at the very least, in addition to backup cornerback Elliot Washington II. More opt outs are coming in the days ahead, however. The Lions will also have an interim defensive coordinator in safeties coach Anthony Poindexter. He takes over for Jim Knowles, who has already left for the same job at Tennessee.

Interim head coach Terry Smith will also have interim quarterbacks and tight ends coaches now that Danny O’Brien and Ty Howle, respectively, are already at Virginia Tech.

“The process is the same as anything. It’s going to be the next man up,” Smith said last week. “The standard is the result. We’ll field a team that’s going to be ready to compete. We have our work cut out for us to play against Clemson, but we’re going to put a product out there on the field that’s representative of Penn State.

“We’re going to play really hard and play really tough, and we’re going to get after it. Then the result will be the result, but the next man up has to deliver the job.”