CLEMSON, SC — Another Clemson football player has decided to retire from the game due to injuries.
Landnden Zanders, who has been on the safe side for the Tigers since 2019, has decided to retire from the game. The Redshirt-Junior announced this on Wednesday via social media.
Zanders joins former center Hunter Rayburn, who announced in the spring he was quitting football because of a neck problem. Zanders retires from the game with shoulder injuries that have plagued him since preseason camp in 2020.
He played through the injuries after tearing his labrum in the 2020 season. He underwent surgery at the end of this season to fix the problem, but he injured his shoulder again in Week 1 against Georgia in 2021 and missed all of last year.
“After struggling with three shoulder injuries in the space of a year, including playing the 2020 season with a torn labrum and missing most of last season after injuring myself in the season opener, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to take myself to retire from playing the game I love,” Zanders said via social media.
Zanders finished his collegiate career with 57 tackles while playing for Clemson. Five of those tackles were lost and three of those were sacks.
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He played in 25 games, including 10 starts, in his three seasons with the Tigers.
“While I’ve worked with our coaches and doctors to get back on the pitch, I just don’t think I have the physical capacity to be the kind of player I’ve always been proud of,” Zanders wrote. “That’s why I’m disappointed that I won’t be playing football anymore, I’ll leave the game with no regrets.
“I’m proud to have played alongside so many great teammates and for so many great coaches. Even as I turn to my next chapter, I am proud that my journey and life story includes the opportunity to have played football at Clemson.”
Zanders’ best season came in 2020. He was credited with 34 tackles (2.5 for losses), three demolished passes, one forced fumble and one sack in 394 snaps while playing in 10 games.
He started nine of those ten games for the Tigers.
Zanders indicated in his social media post that he will be completing his studies with Clemson.
“I gave everything I had to the program and I will give everything I have to support my brothers on the team in new ways as I work towards graduating,” he said. “Coach Swinney always says joining Clemson is a lifelong decision and even off the field I will be a Clemson Tiger for life.”