CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney announced Monday that linebacker Kobe McCloud will be out for the season because of a knee injury.

McCloud exited the Tigers' 66-20 victory Saturday against Appalachian State before halftime after attempting to make an open-field tackle. His teammates huddled around him on the field before he was helped to the sideline by staffers.

Swinney said the sophomore will have season-ending surgery Tuesday morning. The Tigers coach revealed walk-on defensive back Caleb Nix, who is the younger brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, is out for the season as well with a torn ACL.

"Just two great kids, and you just hate it for those guys," Swinney said.

McCloud was the third linebacker behind Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz and recorded one tackle through two games. Freshman Sammy Brown, Dee Crayton and Jamal Anderson will have to step up in McCloud's absence.

Brown led Clemson in tackles with nine, Crayton had two and Anderson had none on Saturday.

"All of them played a lot (on Saturday)," Swinney said. "So again, that's a really good thing that they all got that amount of experience. So, those three guys will step up and fill the void."

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Swinney said defensive lineman Peter Woods and wide receiver Tyler Brown are "day to day" after getting injured against the Mountaineers. Woods exited in the second quarter after an App State player chop-blocked him, and Brown rolled his ankle in the game.

No. 20 Clemson (1-1) looks to get healthy in its open week before facing NC State (1-1) in its first ACC game on Sept. 21 at Memorial Stadium.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Kobe McCloud out for season with knee injury