Sammy Watkins cleared to play

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Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins is expected to play this Saturday when the No. 15 Tigers host Georgia Tech after sitting out last week with an abdominal virus.

Watkins returned to practice Monday after missing the trip to Boston College following some abnormal results on a blood test. Those numbers returned to normal levels on Monday, the school said in a news release.

"Sammy got plenty of rest over the weekend and he should be able to play on Saturday against Georgia Tech," coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement.

"Apparently his problems last week were the result of dehydration, some trauma to the kidney caused by the physical nature of the Florida State game, and a virus."

Watkins, an All-American as a freshman last season, has played in just two of the first five games of the season. He sat out the first two weeks because of a suspension, and then played against Furman and Florida State. He has 10 catches for 76 yards in the two games, along with six rushes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Andre Ellington against Florida State.

Without Watkins, the Tigers have turned to DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the ACC with 42 receptions for 609 yards and six touchdowns. Last week against Boston College, Hopkins caught 11 passes for a school-record 197 yards and a touchdown. Against Auburn earlier this year, Hopkins also set the single-game receptions record with 13.

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Andrea Adelson | email

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• ESPN.com Big East/Nation blogger
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010
• Wrote for The Orlando Sentinel