Clemson's Cole Turner Away From Team

Fifth-year receiver Cole Turner remains on the roster but is not with the team after stepping away during fall camp.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football

Wide photograph of an empty college football practice field at dawn with orange pylons, a sideline bench, and pine trees under morning haze. — Clemson fifth-year wide receiver Cole Turner remains on the roster but is away from the team after stepping away during fall camp, coach Dabo Swinney said. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said fifth-year wide receiver Cole Turner is away from the team. Turner stepped away during fall camp to handle personal matters, and his roster status has not changed.

Why it matters

Turner had been expected to play a rotational role in Clemson's receiving corps, so his absence affects the depth of the Tigers' receiving group. Swinney said Turner is doing fine and remains a member of the program.

Turner has 43 career receptions for 562 yards and two touchdowns in 31 appearances from 2022-25. In 2025 he recorded 16 receptions for 144 yards across 12 regular season games, with two starts.

The players

Dabo Swinney

Dabo Swinney is the head football coach at Clemson University and has led the program through multiple national championship-level seasons.

Cole Turner

Cole Turner is a fifth-year senior wide receiver at Clemson who has appeared in 31 career games and is the younger brother of Clemson safeties coach Nolan Turner.

The details

Turner stepped away from the team during fall camp, with the program's support, and spokesperson Ross Taylor told The Clemson Insider that he remains part of the program. Turner had practiced on the first day of fall camp before stepping away, and Swinney said he was unsure when Turner would return.

Turner's first season with Clemson was 2022, when he redshirted.
On August 20, Swinney said he was unsure when Turner would return.
On November 4, Swinney gave an update on Turner's status at a media availability.

Season Trajectory

Turner's absence comes as Clemson's receiving corps is set to rely on its depth players, following a 2025 season in which he saw limited production on a team that appeared in the Pinstripe Bowl. The situation reflects how a single personnel change can alter rotation planning ahead of the regular season's competitive stretch.

Turner's absence reduces the number of available receivers in Clemson's rotation, which may shift snap distribution among the Tigers' other wide receivers. Fantasy managers tracking Clemson's receiving corps should account for his uncertain availability.

The takeaway

A single personnel absence can ripple through a depth chart, so following head coach updates at media availabilities is the most reliable way to track roster changes in college football.