Clemson Loses DT Rashaad Jackson Until Mid-Season

Jackson started 10 of Clemson’s 13 games last year and had 37 tackles in 369 plays.

By: Clemson Sports Information | News Channel 7
Published: August 11, 2008

Clemson starting defensive tackle Rashaad Jackson will have surgery on Tuesday on a knee to repair a torn quad tendon, an injury he suffered during Saturday’s scrimmage at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Jackson will be out until at least midseason, Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden said on Monday morning.

Jackson has 16.5 career tackles for loss, more than any other active Tiger and was listed as a starting defensive tackle entering this season. He started 10 of Clemson’s 13 games last year and had 37 tackles in 369 plays. He had seven tackles for loss, including one sack last season when he helped Clemson to a top 10 finish in scoring defense and total defense.
The native of Union, SC played in 12 games as a freshman in 2005 when he had 39 tackles and in 13 games in 2006 when he had 26 tackles. He has played in 37 of Clemson’s 38 games over the last three years, missing only the Duke game at Duke in 2007.

“This is a big loss for our defense because Rashaad is not only a leader on the field, but off the field as well,” said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. “Jamie Cumbie will move into the starting position. He has had an outstanding camp so far. This injury also makes Jock McKissic a factor at this position. The decision to move him back to defense was a good one.”

Cumbie is a junior from Morris, IL who played in all 13 games last year, including three last year when Jackson could not go due to a knee injury. Cumbie had 29 tackles in 295 plays last year, including three tackles for loss, two of which were sacks. He was a Parade All-American and second-team USA Today All-American as a senior in high school.

McKissic is a senior from Opelika, AL who has played in 37 games over the last three years, including 13 as a starter. He started 12 games on Clemson’s 2006 team and had 18 tackles. He had an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against South Carolina that year. Last year he had 14 tackles in 12 games. He was moved to the offensive line in the spring, but returned to defensive tackle at the beginning of preseason camp.