As Cincinnati is mourning the loss of a player killed in a car accident Saturday night, Clemson is thankful that, by the grace of God, they’re not doing the same.
That same night, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins was injured, not seriously, in a car accident near his hometown in North Carolina. While Watkins avoided serious injury, one of Watkins’ closest friends died in the accident.
The car in which Watkins was a passenger hydroplaned in bad weather and slammed into an electric pole. Dabo Swinney said Sunday, in essence, his player is lucky to be alive.
“It’s very fortunate that Carlos is OK,” Swinney said. “It was a very serious car wreck. There was a fatality, and it’s a very tough situation for him. ...
"[H]e was in the car, compressed in the chest area, for two hours.”
Watkins was hospitalized overnight and released Sunday. Swinney said the defensive lineman might return to campus Monday.
As for his availability for the Tigers’ game against Wake Forest Saturday afternoon, that is, obviously, not part of the discussion at this point in time.