Harper hindered by injury to his shoulder

CLEMSON - Cullen Harper's banged-up right shoulder best illustrates the perils of operating behind an inexperienced offensive line.

Harper, Clemson's senior quarterback and the preseason player of the year in the ACC, revealed Tuesday that he's been dealing with a first-degree sprain of the AC joint in his throwing shoulder.

Harper, who expressed hope he'll be at 100 percent by Saturday's conference opener against North Carolina State, said he suffered the injury while absorbing a crushing second-quarter hit in the Tigers' 34-10 loss to Alabama in the season opener.

Harper was hit plenty in that game, and the attrition since suffered by the offensive line hasn't exactly produced confidence he'll be safe in the pocket from now on.

"You do want to get the ball out quick to protect those guys," he said of the offensive line, which will likely start three freshmen Saturday. "But we've still got to be able to throw the ball downfield, and those guys are going to have to give me protection."

Harper's injury was kept under wraps until Tuesday. Two days earlier, coach Tommy Bowden said Harper needed to play better. That sparked some speculation that all wasn't right with his quarterback, and Harper broke the news at Tuesday's press conference after he was asked about his health.

The injury is to the same shoulder that underwent surgery last November, but Harper said it's a different joint. He said he underwent treatment four times per day last week and felt 'a little tired' in last week's 45-17 win over The Citadel, but he stressed that the shoulder is 'feeling better and better every day.'

Offensive coordinator Rob Spence said Harper is fine and that there's no concern whatsoever about his shoulder.

Harper seemed miffed that Bowden called for improvement after he completed 14 of 18 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown against The Citadel.

"My shoulder was a little tired," he said, "but I was 14-of-18. I don't need to sit up here and defend myself. : That's the way he's going to handle things. You've just got to take it with a grain of salt. I don't mind being coached. Just come to me and say it."

Clemson's offensive line was already inexperienced entering the season, but two weeks in the situation is even more concerning. Starting right guard Barry Humphries might be out for the season with a knee injury suffered against Alabama. Starting left tackle Chris Hairston is out for Saturday's game and possibly beyond after suffering a bruised knee in a moped accident Saturday night.

Redshirt freshmen David Smith and Mason Cloy are expected to start at the guard positions in Saturday's noon game at Death Valley. Freshman Landon Walker, who saw his first collegiate snap last week, is slated to start at right tackle. At left tackle is fourth-year junior Cory Lambert, who played sparingly his first two years.

Clemson hasn't started three freshman offensive linemen since 1943. Alabama sacked Harper three times, and he was pressured some against The Citadel.

Harper said he's trying not to think about the potential for more injury. He played hurt against South Carolina last year after taking a severe hit to his right shoulder against Boston College. After undergoing surgery, he played in the Tigers' bowl loss to Auburn but said afterward that his shoulder still hadn't fully recovered.

"You don't want to play with fear," he said. "You don't want to think about getting hurt. All I can do is go out there and play up to the best of my ability."

Bowden said Tuesday that Harper's play against The Citadel wasn't "any great concern."

"I mean, 45-17, you're just looking for things to say," he said. "There's nothing in particular, obviously."

In other Clemson football news:

-- Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said Ricky Sapp's absence has been "huge" the past two games. The junior "bandit" end was limited to 13 snaps against Alabama with a bruised knee, and he didn't play against The Citadel.

Koenning said Sapp would've been able to chase down Alabama's running plays from behind, while also providing a consistent pass rush.

"'It would have been a colossal difference in that game," he said.

Sapp said he anticipates playing Saturday.

-- Koenning said he's been impressed with freshman end Da'Quan Bowers, who could get the start ahead of Kevin Alexander on Saturday.

"I'm proud of his work ethic and the fact that he's taking coaching and hasn't been a prima donna and hasn't been a guy that thinks he's arrived and has been hungry and eager," Koenning said.

-- Bowden said sophomore tight end Brian Linthicum will transfer because of a lack of playing time. He said he's not sure where Linthicum will end up.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/.