Troy Stellato's Season Cut Short: Clemson WR Faces Another Injury Setback
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For Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato, the 2024 season represented a breakthrough after years of frustration and setbacks. But earlier this week, head coach Dabo Swinney announced that Stellato’s season is over due to a thumb injury requiring surgery, another unfortunate chapter in the career of the talented yet oft-injured junior.
Stellato, a 6'1", 190-pound wideout from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, continued to emerge as a key contributor for the Tigers. Through nine games, he recorded 25 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown, ranking fourth on the team in receiving yards. He also logged the third-most snaps of any Clemson receiver this season, a testament to his reliability and toughness despite battling pain in recent weeks.
Swinney revealed that Stellato had been playing through the injury, but ultimately, the pain became too much to endure.
“He's actually been battling it for a couple of weeks. Y'all just didn’t know,” Swinney said. “We've been kind of casting his thumb up, and he's just at a point where he just doesn't think he can keep going—and needs to get the surgery, so we're going to do it on Thursday.”
For Stellato, who has missed time during his first two seasons in Tiger Town, the thumb issue is yet another cruel twist in a career defined by resilience. Swinney acknowledged the frustration of seeing a player who has worked so hard to stay on the field face another setback.
“He's in a lot of pain and just doesn't feel like he can really play like he needs to play. He's tried hard, but (he’s) got to get it fixed,” Swinney said. “We were hoping we could maybe make it to the end, and he's made it these last two games with it, but just another tough break.”
Stellato was becoming a trustworthy asset to Clemson’s passing attack. His 25 catches include several critical third-down conversions, diving receptions, and tough grabs in traffic. For Swinney, Stellato’s toughness and love for football stand out.
“He's been a great player for us. I think he's played the third-most snaps of any of our receivers and has made some big plays,” Swinney said. “I mean, he's just a very gritty, tough player.”
That grit has defined Stellato’s career, even as injuries have threatened to derail it at every turn. Swinney expressed admiration for how Stellato has consistently bounced back from adversity.
“He loves football. He loves to play. You hate it because I watched him for two-plus years just sit. He couldn't play, but he's battled a lot of injuries, and he's always just kept getting up,” Swinney said. “That's one thing you can say about Stellato. He's a tough kid, man, and he does love to play, so I hate it for him, but this is just another part of his story, and he’s got to move forward.”
For Stellato, the hope is that this injury marks a temporary setback rather than a definitive one. His 2024 season may have been cut short, but as Swinney pointed out, Stellato’s story isn’t finished yet.
