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Clemson reinstates receiver Deon Cain

Clemson reinstated wide receiver Deon Cain to the team on Tuesday, head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed to reporters.
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Clemson reinstated sophomore wide receiver Deon Cain to the team on Tuesday, head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed to reporters.

Cain was the Tigers’ second-leading pass-catcher as a freshman prior to his suspension one day before Clemson’s College Football Playoff game against Oklahoma, due to a violation of team rules. He missed the ensuing national championship game and was held out of spring practice.

Swinney said Cain has been part of meetings and film sessions and wil return to the team for fall camp.

“[Cain] is a great kid, not a bad kid at all,” Swinney said, according to ESPN. “He just made some bad decisions. Just being held accountable for those things. He's come back and done everything we asked him to do. I'm really proud of what he's done.

“He's served his time,” Swinney said. “[I] sat him for two games, big ones. I just felt like I needed to get his attention. ... I felt like I needed to draw a line in the sand to get this kid to see the big picture and understand the consequences of his action. And to his credit, he could've left. But I laid out what was going to happen this spring, and he chose to stay. That says a lot about Deon.”

Cain was a highly touted high school prospect and caught 34 passes for 582 yards last season. He returns as a target for star quarterback Deshaun Watson.