Dabo Swinney loses Clemson football OL after Watson Young leaves team

Clemson offensive lineman Watson Young is no longer with the Tigers after opting to step away from football this summer, according to a team spokesperson. Young is not listed on Clemson’s 2026 roster and took part in spring practice. A Clemson native who attended Daniel High School, he did not appear in a game over two seasons, suffering a season-ending knee injury before the 2024 season and sitting out in 2025. Young was a three-star recruit and became the program’s first fourth-generation football player on record, with his father Kyle Young having played center for Clemson from 1998 to 2001 and earning two All-American honors. With his departure, Clemson has 18 offensive linemen on its 105-man roster heading into 2026. Starters projected for 2026 include Brayden Jacobs, Elyjah Thurmon, Harris Sewell, Collin Sadler, and Easton Ware, with the team having lost four starters: Blake Miller, Tristan Leigh, Ryan Linthicum, and Walker Parks.