CLEMSON — Injuries are an accepted risk in preseason camp. That risk became reality for a Clemson standout freshman.
Tigers safety Polo Anderson suffered a knee injury, a team spokesperson confirmed to The Post and Courier. Dabo Swinney is expected to share more details about the injury after the team’s scrimmage Aug. 15.
Anderson, a product of Spartanburg county and Dorman high school, was a four-star recruit out of high school and the No. 3 player in South Carolina for the class of 2026. He’d earned praise from Swinney and teammates since enrolling in January.
“Polo reminds me a lot of myself when I was a freshman,” defensive back Ashton Hampton said. “Very smart, athletic and just learning everything so quickly and picking everything up.”
Swinney said Anderson has the ability to play all around the secondary in the future, although his main position is safety.
The NCAA’s new “5 in 5” eligibility model eliminated the use of medical waivers and redshirts for athletes, meaning 2026 would still count against Anderson’s eligibility if he misses extended time. He’ll still have four seasons of eligibility remaining after this season.
