Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Carlos Watkins is "very fortunate" to have survived a car wreck that killed one of the defensive tackle's high school classmates over the weekend in North Carolina.
Watkins was a passenger in a car that hydroplaned on Saturday night and crashed into an electrical pole. The North Carolina High Patrol says the Dodge Durango lost control while making a left turn, slid off the road and the electrical pole, causing it to snap and live lines to fall on top of the SUV.
"It's very fortunate that Carlos is OK," Swinney said during his Sunday media availability. "It was a very serious car wreck. There was a fatality, and it's a very tough situation for him."
Swinney said that Watkins was kept at the hospital overnight for observation, following two hours of "in the car, compressed in the chest area." The Clemson coach described Watkins' status as "OK physically."
No. 3 Clemson played at N.C. State in Raleigh on Thursday, escaping with a 26-14 win to remain unbeaten on the season. Watkins recorded two tackles while playing a reserve role in the Tigers' defensive line rotation.
