Clemson has sent three players home for violating team rules, including key receiver Deon Cain , a source confirmed to ESPN's Mark Schlabach on Tuesday, two days before the Tigers' College Football Playoff semifinal game.
Cain, who has been the Tigers' biggest deep threat this season, kicker Ammon Lakip and tight end Jay Jay McCullough will not play in the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday.
According to multiple reports, they were sent home for failing drug tests.
All three are backups, but Cain is a significant loss.
A true freshman, he stepped up when starter Mike Williams went down for the season with a neck injury in the opener and ranks second on the team with 582 yards on 34 receptions.