Clemson Getting Vic Burley Back as Defensive Line Depth Takes Another Hit

Clemson's defensive line will get a much-needed reinforcement next week.

Dabo Swinney said Monday night on Tiger Hour that defensive tackle Vic Burley has returned to the team and will be reinstated, making him available for Clemson's Sept. 19 ACC opener against North Carolina.

Burley will not play Saturday against Georgia Southern.

“We brought him back today,” Swinney said. “He will not play this weekend, but he'll be available for next week's game.”

The news comes at a position where Clemson's depth took another significant hit Saturday night at LSU. Swinney said during the same radio appearance that defensive tackle Markus Strong will “probably be done for the year” after suffering an injury in the Tigers' 51-10 loss.

That makes Burley's eventual return particularly important for a defensive front that had a miserable night in Baton Rouge.

LSU rushed for 309 yards on 58 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and scored four rushing touchdowns. The Bayou Bengals piled up 644 yards of total offense and 38 first downs while handing Clemson its most lopsided loss of the Swinney era.

Burley gives Clemson something it could certainly use in the middle: size and experience.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound graduate senior entered the season with 267 career defensive snaps across 21 games. While his career hasn’t panned out as expected, the Tigers can use every hand they can get up front.

Burley had been suspended indefinitely since Aug. 22 following an arrest on a public disorderly conduct charge. He subsequently pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge that includes six months of court supervision and community service. If the conditions of the program are completed, the charge is to be dismissed and expunged.

His absence left Clemson without a player Swinney had noticed making progress before the season.

“I actually noticed Vic today at least three times,” Swinney said during preseason camp. “So all good stuff.”

That was noteworthy because Swinney had been candid about what he believed was missing from Clemson's defensive tackle room.

“I think they're a bunch of nobodies,” Swinney said when asked during camp whether the Tigers had an established alpha at the position. “That's kind of who they are. I don't think there's anybody at that position yet that has earned it. I think there's talent there. There's a lot of good players there, but I hadn't really seen an alpha yet at that position.”

Swinney said at the time he believed Clemson had an established alpha at every other position group. At defensive tackle, he was waiting for someone to take ownership of the room.

Saturday night did nothing to resolve that question.

Now Strong's injury makes an already unsettled position even thinner. Clemson will have to navigate Saturday's home opener against Georgia Southern.

After what happened in Baton Rouge, Burley’s return can't come soon enough.