Clemson DE Richard Yeargin Suffers Neck Injury in Car Accident, out for Season

Clemson defensive end Richard Yeargin was hospitalized with a neck injury after a serious car accident and will miss the entire 2017 season.

“Richard suffered the same type of injury that Mike Williams had in 2015 as the result of an automobile accident over the weekend,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement, via Tony Crumpton of TigerNet.com. “The good news is that he will be fine long term. He will miss this season as he recovers.”  

"I want to personally take the time out to thank all of those who have been there to support me the last two days that I have been in the hospital on bed rest," Yeargin said on his Instagram account, via Crumpton. "After almost facing death I thank God he kept me hear to shed light on him. If it wasn't for him I would not be here today."

While Yeargin has been overshadowed by elite players along the defensive line over the past two years, he has been a key reserve for one of the best defenses in college football.

The rising junior appeared in 12 games last season, tallying 14 tackles, four of them for a loss.

Carlos Watkins also left a significant hole in the defensive line that will require multiple players to fill.

Unfortunately, the latest injury could cause Yeargin to miss time. Although the extent of the neck injury remains to be seen, things could have been much worse in an accident of that nature.