The Clemson Tigers’ offseason has certainly been one to remember, with head coach Dabo Swinney adapting to the modern landscape of college football more than ever by adding 10 players from the transfer portal.

Unfortunately, though, one of them has already gone down with a serious injury to start the spring season. This past Monday, Clemson Athletics announced that defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly suffered a right ACL tear during the team’s practice scrimmage and underwent surgery for the injury the following day, March 19.

While he hasn’t been ruled out for the season, there’s no timetable for his return, which isn’t at all optimal, as the West Georgia transfer was primed to fight for a starting spot on the interior defensive line. The timing is especially inconvenient considering that all three starters from last season — Peter Woods, DeMonte Capehart and Stephiylan Green — are now gone.

As mentioned, Kelly hails from West Georgia, a former Division II program that recently transitioned to a Division I FCS school. In Kelly’s lone season — he redshirted in 2024 — with the Wolves, the 6-foot-3, 281-pound tackle logged 17 tackles, which were seven for a loss, four sacks and one fumble recovery.

He was one of Clemson’s earliest portal contacts, as he visited on Jan. 5 and committed two days later.

The remaining active defensive tackles include Markus Strong, an Oklahoma transfer; Andy Burburija, a JUCO transfer; Vic Burley, Amare Adams, Champ Thompson, Hevin Brown-Shuler, Kam Cody and Makhi Williams Lee.

It’s certainly a tough blow, but there’s at least some precedent for optimism within the program. In 2022, former wide receiver and running back Adam Randall tore his ACL during spring practice, yet was back on the field by Week 3 against Louisiana Tech — just 169 days after going under the knife.

If Kelly can replicate that kind of recovery, the Tigers may not have to wait long to see what kind of player they landed.