Clemson used its bye week to reshuffle the depth chart and plan for the 2027 roster

Clemson spent its open week on more than rest. Coach Dabo Swinney said his staff went through the roster in detail, looking at who is playing well now and who could be part of the team in 2027. The results show up in the depth chart for Saturday's noon game against Charleston Southern at Memorial Stadium.

The Aiken Standard reported that the biggest change had nothing to do with injuries. Easton Ware moves to right guard and replaces Ronan O'Connell, who has struggled there. Swinney said the staff had planned to move Ware inside this season after he missed his freshman year with a shoulder injury. Those plans were put on hold when right tackle Collin Sadler got hurt and Ware had to play outside against LSU. With Sadler back at tackle, Ware gets the move inside the staff had wanted.

The rest of the shuffle was driven more by health. Swinney expects defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly back this week after a spring ACL tear. Clemson has been patching that spot without Kelly, Markus Strong and Devarrick Woods, and moved Darien Mayo inside to help. The staff also wants to get carries for running back Jay Haynes, who has dealt with injuries going back to 2024.

Quarterback Christopher Vizzina is the other player to watch. He came out of camp as the starter, then hurt his elbow against Georgia Southern on Sept. 12 and lost the job to freshman Tait Reynolds. According to the Aiken Standard, Vizzina only recently came out of his arm brace and is not fully healthy. Swinney still hopes to get him some snaps Saturday.

Swinney also spent the week talking about next year. On his Oct. 12 radio show and at his Oct. 13 media availability, he said that of the players he considers Clemson's top 25, only linebacker Jeremiah Alexander and defensive end Jahiem Lawson are out of eligibility after this season. He acknowledged that some players with eligibility left will still turn pro. Defensive back Ashton Hampton and defensive end Will Heldt are both projected as first-round picks. But Swinney suggested that NIL money could convince others to stay, pointing out that a strong college player projected for the third round or later would make less in the NFL. Only three of the starters listed on this week's depth chart are in their fifth college season.

Charleston Southern (3-3) gives Clemson a chance to test those depth changes before the second half of its schedule. The Tigers are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC, with seven games left. The Buccaneers are 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Kickoff is at noon Eastern on ACC Network.

Swinney said he respects the FCS opponent, but he described the week as focused on Clemson's own play. "It's about how we play, not who we play," he said, according to the Aiken Standard.