For the second straight year, Clemson linebacker Antonio Clay has withdrawn for the spring semester.

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Thursday that Clay left for personal reasons.

Clay has struggled to deal with the death of his sister, killed in a car accident near her hometown of Jeffersonville, Georgia, in September 2006.

Clay returned to Clemson and played football that season, finishing as the team's third leading tackler.

He took the spring 2007 semester off, then returned to the team over the summer. Clay played in 13 games, starting only the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Auburn when the Tigers lost starting linebacker Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie to academics.

Clay finished with 43 tackles this season.

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