Clemson O-lineman, SC native steps away from football before 2026 season
An in-state player has left the Clemson football team ahead of the 2026 season.
As of Monday, offensive lineman Watson Young is no longer listed on the Clemson’s online roster. That’s because he opted to step away from football this summer, a team spokesman told The State. Young had been with the team for two seasons.
A Clemson native and fourth-generation Tigers football player, Young was a standout player at nearby Daniel High School. He helped the team to a 51-1 record and three state championships in his four seasons and was a 2023 S.C. Mr. Football finalist.
He joined Clemson as a three-star Class of 2023 recruit and was on scholarship.
But Young (6-3, 280) struggled with injuries at the college level and ends his Clemson football career without appearing in a game. Ahead of his 2024 true freshman season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury during fall camp.
Young didn’t appear in a game last year either. He would’ve entered the 2026 season as a redshirt sophomore with three years of college eligibility remaining.
Young’s next steps are unclear, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to remain at Clemson as a student and finish his degree since he’s from the area. He could also assist coach Dabo Swinney and the football program in some capacity.
Young is the son of Clemson senior associate athletic director Kyle Young, a former All-American center for the Tigers who now works in administration.
Clemson is about nine weeks away from its 2026 season opener at LSU on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Baton Rouge. The Tigers will start fall camp in early August.
This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 9:07 AM with the headline "Clemson O-lineman, SC native steps away from football before 2026 season."
