Dan Hope

daniel.hope@independentmail.com

Clemson tight end Garrett Williams is out indefinitely after tearing his ACL.

The Tigers junior, who suffered the knee injury in spring practice, had surgery to repair the injury late last week.

His status for the beginning is fall camp is unknown, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday, according to a statement.

Barring an unusually fast recovery, the injury makes Williams a likely candidate to redshirt in 2017. A torn ACL often requires at least nine to 12 months for a full recovery. Former Clemson cornerback Adrian Baker missed the entire 2016 season after tearing his ACL last spring.

In his first two seasons as a Tiger, Williams appeared in all 30 of Clemson's games. He caught only two passes for 21 yards but was used primarily as a blocker, both as an in-line tight end and as a fullback in the backfield. Williams has played 252 career snaps, more than any other tight ends on Clemson's current roster.

Williams was among the leading candidates for significant playing time at tight end this season following the departure of Jordan Leggett. With Williams sidelined, Milan Richard is the leading candidate to start at tight end while Cannon Smith, Shadell Bell, D.J. Greenlee and J.C. Chalk could all see playing time.

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