Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday that starting center Ryan Norton suffered a sprained MCL during the Tigers' practice on Monday and will not play in Thursday night's game against Louisville.
Junior Jay Guillermo, who has played in 16 games and started one in his Tiger career, will start in Norton's place. Redshirt freshman Justin Falcinelli will be Guillermo's primary backup.
Norton, a senior, has been Clemson's starting center for the past two seasons. He has appeared in 38 games, including 24 starts, and was a member of the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list. Norton became something of a social sensation this summer when he was videoed bench-pressing 640 pounds.
Norton becomes the third major Tiger starter to miss the Louisville game, joining wide receiver Mike Williams and placekicker Ammon Lakip. Williams suffered a neck injury in Clemson's season-opening win over Wofford, while Lakip is serving the third game of a three-game suspension for an offseason arrest.
