Two weeks ago during a scrimmage, Clemson right guard Walker Parks went down with an undisclosed injury. Parks is an integral part of Clemson's offensive line, and his availability has been closely followed by both LSU and Clemson fans in recent weeks.
According to Rubbing the Rock's Zach Lentz, on Tuesday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney simply chuckled when asked about the status of the veteran offensive lineman ahead of Saturday's heavyweight battle with LSU.
"Head coach Dabo Swinney simply chuckled. No "green jersey," no "yellow jersey," no cautious coach-speak. Just a laugh and a simple, declarative statement that sent a wave of optimism through Tiger Town," Lentz wrote. "He's back in practice. He's doing good," Swinney said.
According to Lentz, Parks is a player whose health could single-handedly determine the ceiling of Clemson's offense. He has plenty of experience under his belt, having logged over 2,500 snaps with the Tigers since 2021. He started his collegiate career as a right tackle before moving to guard in 2022. His absensce would be detrimental to Clemson's offense.
Parks was an instrumental part of Clemson's offensive success in 2024. Parks' strong play helped the Clemson offense average 451.9 yards per game, which ranked third in the ACC and 12th nationally. For his efforts, Parks was a third-team All-ACC selection last season. With Cade Klubnik back under center, Clemson fans have high hopes for another big offensive season.
So, it appears that Parks is practicing and trending in the right direction. However, this is a situation worth monitoring in the coming days. If Parks isn't able to play, junior Collin Sadler could start at left guard, while junior Harris Sewell replaces Parks at right guard. Sadler and Hewell have been in ongoing battles for the starting left guard position before Parks' injury. Sewell got the starting nod at right guard for a handful of games in 2023 as a freshman, so it would make sense to see him back in that spot if Parks is unable to go.
Kick-off for the top-10 matchup is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 30 on ABC.