Dabo Swinney gives David Eziomume injury update after Clemson RB was carted off vs Cal

Clemson football running back David Eziomume will be out for the season after getting carted off with a leg injury against California, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said Sept. 27.

Eziomume was injured on a kickoff return after Cal got a scoop-and-score touchdown off a fumble from quarterback Tait Reynolds in the first quarter. The Tigers (3-1, 2-0 ACC) defeated the Golden Bears 24-10 on Sept. 25.

Swinney said the surgery Eziomume needs is similar to the one defensive tackle Markus Strong had earlier this season after suffering a season-ending injury against LSU on Sept. 5.

Eziomume is primarily a special teams player for the Tigers. He had one carry this season, which was an 11-yard touchdown run against LSU for Clemson‘s only touchdown in a 51-10 defeat. Eziomume has played three seasons for the Tigers and has rushed for 144 yards on 27 career carries.

Eziomume posted a message on his X account after the Cal game.

“Lord I thank you, for you are an amazing God,” Eziomume wrote. “I never question your works for I know it all has meaning. I love y’all and I’ll be back soon.”

Lord I thank you , for you are an amazing God. I never question your works for I know it all has meaning. I love yall and I’ll be back soon ❤️💯 https://t.co/4SnQxS7C6n

— David Eziomume ✞ (@EziomumeDaee) September 26, 2026

Starting guard Elyjah Thurmon was also injured against the Golden Bears, and starting nickel Corian Gipson and co-starting defensive tackle Devarrick Woods didn’t play due to injury.

Swinney says all of those injuries are short-term ones.

“Everybody would be pretty much day-to-day from just being banged up from this game or previous game,” Swinney said.

Gavin Blanchard replaced Thurmon for the rest of the Cal game. Misun Kelley started ahead of Gipson at nickel and defensive lineman Darien Mayo moved over from defensive end to defensive tackle to fill the void left by Woods. Swinney said the latter move was something he was considering before Woods’ injury.

“I felt like we needed to move Mayo inside this week. Devarrick was down, and it’s just something I’ve been thinking about anyway, and just felt like that was a good move,” Swinney said. “I just wanted to see what it looked like, and then he was a bright spot. I think that’s a great move for him.”

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney gives David Eziomume injury update after Clemson RB was carted off vs Cal