The Clemson football program took a big blow Wednesday, losing a defensive back to injury.
Even though we’re only just beginning spring practices, injuries can still happen as the Tigers found out. Junior cornerback Adrian Baker tore his ACL in practice, head coach Dabo Swinney announced Wednesday.
The injury occurred during non-contact drills.
Baker could make a return by September.
#Clemson cornerback Adrian Baker tore his ACL, Dabo Swinney announces.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 9, 2016
The 6-foot-1 170-pound Baker played in 12 games last year, recording two interceptions and 10 tackles during the 2015 season. His clutch interception late in the first quarter in the red zone against Florida State turned the momentum of the contest towards the Tigers.
Baker’s absence is a blow to the Tigers’ depth in the defensive backfield, as three starters from last season have left for the NFL. Safety Ryan Carter is expected to move back to corner to help provide experienced depth.
“Just like a lot of ACL injuries (it was) non-contact,” Swinney told Tigernet.com. “Just planted, doing one on one’s. We already started that process of getting him back and we are all hopeful. The goal is some time in September to get him back with us. His attitude is good. You hate when young men have to deal with that type of adversity, but we got a long line of guys that we can point to, starting with Deshaun Watson, Charone Peake, Tony Steward, and so on and so on of guys that have dealt with the same thing. Hopefully, Adrian will attack his rehab like those guys and have the same type of success.”
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
