Clemson will feel affects of defensive end's injury immediately vs. Auburn

Expected starter Austin Bryant suffered a foot injury that will keep him out of the opener against Auburn

Clemson defensive end Austin Bryant has been ruled out for the rest of fall camp and the Tigers' season opener at Auburn after suffering a broken bone in his foot. Coach Dabo Swinney confirmed the news on Tuesday after practice, but we won't have any real understanding for the impact until Sept. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Tigers defensive line is loaded with talent but short on game experience, and Bryant, a sophomore, was one of the few ends to play a significant role during the memorable playoff run of 2015. As a backup for Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, Bryant appeared in 13 games last season and recorded 35 tackles. Expectations for Bryant's 2016 season were set against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl after the then-freshman came in for an injured Lawson and recorded eight tackles in the win.

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables doesn't preach "next man up" like many coaches, so it's just as likely to see a mix up along the line as a simple promotion from the depth chart. Sophomore Christian Wilkins, for example, could get moved from defensive tackle to defensive end for the start of the season. Or this could be the opportunity needed for a break out season from a player like Richard Yeargin or Clelin Ferrell.

Yeargin is a redshirt sophomore with limited game experience in 2015 and Ferrell is a redshirt freshman. They represent two of the possible options from a handful of blue chip prospects looking to make their mark on the field and start the career they envisioned when signing with the Tigers.

Venables wants his defense to be able to generate pressure on the quarterback, but not at the expense of leaving wide-open running lanes for the opposition. Clemson has recruited well enough to think they can sustain an injury along the defensive line, but few teams can test an edge player mentally like Auburn. A starter will be named in Bryant's absence, but the season opener will be a great test for Yeargin, Ferrell and the rest of the talented defensive ends on the roster to show they are game-ready now, in 2016.