Clemson wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. was hospitalized with a ‘serious’ neck injury after landing awkwardly on a punt return during Saturday’s loss to SMU, according to Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
Although he had no specific news about the injury, Swinney told reporters he was ‘just really praying’ for Wesco after Saturday’s 35-24 defeat.
‘I have no information on him right now, we’ll just have to wait and see,’ Swinney said.
He added that it is ‘just a serious deal where we were concerned enough to take him and get him checked.’
Footage of the injury has proven elusive online, but according to multiple game reports, Wesco took a low hit on a third-quarter punt return before landing on his neck. Despite the ugly fall, Wesco reportedly popped back to his feet.
Nonetheless, Wesco did not return to the field on Saturday.
Clemson’s Bryant Wesco Jr. was rushed to the hospital with a ‘serious’ neck injury after landing awkwardly on a punt return during Saturday’s loss, according to Dabo Swinney
Clemson’s Bryant Wesco Jr. (12) drops a pass while covered by SMU safety Isaiah Nwokobia
The Daily Mail has reached out to Clemson spokespeople for further information.
While details are still forthcoming, Wesco did offer one positive sign on Instagram with an unrelated post about fellow Clemson receiver T.J. Moore, who had 124 receiving yards in a losing effort against the Mustangs.
‘No surprises,’ Wesco wrote alongside a clip of Moore’s one-handed touchdown catch on Saturday.
A 6-foot-2 Texan, Wesco had an impressive freshman season for Clemson, catching 41 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns. He’d nearly eclipsed that this season, catching 31 passes over just seven games for 537 yards.
Best of all, his six touchdown catches are tied for 13th in the country.
There was more bad news for the 3-4 Tigers as starting left guard Collin Sadler was carted off the field in the fourth quarter. He was seen with an air cast over his left leg.
Fortunately the leg is not broken, Swinney told reporters on Saturday in Death Valley.
Now in its second season in the ACC, SMU is the fifth straight Power Conference team to beat Clemson. The Tigers hadn’t lost five straight to Power Conference teams since 1971.
‘It’s jarring, and it’s disappointing,’ Swinney said. ‘We have to get better.’
