Clemson offensive organizer Tony Elliott will miss the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Ohio State on Friday subsequent to testing positive for COVID-19, coach Dabo Swinney revealed to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi on Wednesday.
Elliott, the Tigers’ offensive play-caller for as far back as six seasons, didn’t make a trip to New Orleans with the team for the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Swinney said Elliott, 41, didn’t have any symptoms and that he would be in communication by means of Zoom up until game time.
“Just unfortunate that he’s out. We love Tony. The good news is he’s doing great,” Swinney told ESPN. “He doesn’t have any symptoms or anything like that. So wish he was with us but he’ll be with us in spirit.”
Swinney disclosed to ESPN that quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter will be higher up in the coaches’ box to help handle Clemson’s offensive playcalling against the Buckeyes.
“Tony’s always been up and I’ve been down. We’ve kind of always done it together,” Swinney told ESPN. “We’ll put Street up and that’ll be the biggest difference. It’ll be Street and I. [C.J.] Spiller will handle the running backs on the field. That’s really it.”
A previous wide receiver at Clemson, Elliott, 41, joined Swinney’s staff in 2011. He coached running backs for four seasons prior to moving into a co-offensive coordinator role with Jeff Scott. At the point when Scott left to turn out to be South Florida’s head coach this season, Elliott moved into the sole coordinator role.
Clemson’s other offensive assistants incorporate Streeter, offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, tight ends coach Danny Pearman and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham.
