Antonio Clay could be back in Clemson soon, but he probably won't be playing for the Tigers this football season.
Several people close to Clay said the linebacker is planning to return to campus this summer but is anticipating sitting out the 2008 season and using his final year of eligibility in 2009.
Clay, who spent the spring semester at home in Georgia dealing with emotional issues, could not be reached for comment. But Dexter Copeland, his former coach at Twiggs County High in Jeffersonville, Ga., said Clay will be back at Clemson sometime this summer.
Another source close to Clay said he is planning to redshirt this season. It is not clear what academic or NCAA requirements Clay must fulfill to return; he also spent the 2007 spring semester home in Georgia.
Clay, who has played in 38 career games and started 13, lost his sister in a car accident in August of 2006 an has since confronted prolonged bouts with depression. Loreto Jackson, Clemson's director of student-athlete performance, said no decision has been made on Clay's return.
"It's a variety of people's decision: him, his family, the university,"
she said. "It's really going to depend on a lot of variables. We're still evaluating the situation."
Clay's unavailability for 2008 would leave Clemson without its top four linebackers from 2007. Cortney Vincent, who started 12 games last season, was recently kicked off the team after a series of slip-ups.
Copeland said Clay recently spent two months working out with the Twiggs County football team to get back in shape and "get back together again."
"He went through so much, and he's learned a lot,"
Copeland said. "Life gives us a lot of lessons, and he's learned a ton already."
