Clemson Tigers suspend 4 players

— -- Clemson has suspended returning starters Corey Crawford and David Beasley along with Garry Peters and Shaq Anthony for the season opener against Georgia for a team rules violation, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday.

"A huge part of our program is teaching accountability, responsibility and that there are consequences for your actions," Swinney said in a statement released by the school. "These are four good young men, but they broke a team rule, and as a result they will each miss a game. I am hopeful that they will learn and grow from this and have a great 2014 season on and off the field."

Crawford is perhaps the biggest loss of the bunch.

Clemson will bank on stellar play from its defensive line this season, as every starter from a year ago returns. Last season, Crawford had 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 starts at defensive end.

Beasley started seven games at left guard a year ago. Anthony had three starts at right tackle, and Peters played as a backup cornerback.

Both Anthony and Peters are competing to win starting jobs for this season.