Dabo Swinney’s defense picked up a nice win today as fifth-year senior LB James Skalski announced via Twitter he plans to return to Clemson next season and cash in the NCAA’s “free” season granted to all fall sport athletes.

For Skalski, it offers another shot at redemption after he was ejected for targeting in the last two College Football Playoff contests dating back to the National Championship loss to LSU. Both calls occurred in New Orleans and both were significant blows to the reeling Tiger defense.

For Clemson, it doesn’t hurt however I do regret we don’t get to see more of this young linebacking core including Kane Patterson, Trenton Simpson, and LaVonta Bentley. That unit has talent but needs better development and more reps to get Clemson back over the hump in the Tigers’ annual CFP run. Skalski is an asset on the surface but could also prove to be a liability when it comes to the depth chart beyond 2021.

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