Clemson defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko has been dismissed for a violation of team rules and behavior detrimental to the football team, coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday.
Fox Carolina reported that Ogundeko was arrested and charged with one count of financial transaction fraud.
Ogundeko, a four-star ESPN 300 prospect in the Class of 2013, was a backup last season but was expected to take on a much bigger role in 2015 on a line that is thin at defensive end following the losses of Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford and Tavaris Barnes.
During spring practice in April, Swinney praised Ogundeko for the strides he made, telling our David Hale, "The biggest thing is that he’s playing so much faster than he did, and a lot of that just comes from increased opportunity. He’s just so excited to finally get his chance."
Beyond Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, Clemson has little depth at end, and that will put greater pressure on three freshmen coming in during the summer to have to make an impact right away. Clemson, which had perhaps more depth than anybody in the country at defensive line last year, could be hurting for bodies to rotate in, especially when fall practice opens.
Ogundeko posted a farewell message on his Instagram account:
Lawson, slated to take Beasley's spot in the starting lineup, took to Twitter to say goodbye:
Love my brother @Ebenezer_O_1 we been boys since we both step on campus pic.twitter.com/xyEVn8ebO0
— Shaq Lawson (@Shaq_Lawson90) May 19, 2015