Former Clemson TE D.J. Greenlee said on Tuesday that assistant coach Danny Pearman used the n-word in speaking to the tight end in 2017.

Former Clemson tight end D.J. Greenlee said on Tuesday that assistant coach Danny Pearman used the n-word in speaking to the tight end during a practice in 2017, according to a report from The State‘s Matt Connolly. 

Greenlee told The State that Pearman, “apologized the rest of that season.”

“He knew he was in the wrong,” Greenlee said. “You can’t hold a grudge against someone forever.”

Pearman issued a public apology Tuesday night, saying, in part:

“Three years ago on the practice field, I made a grave mistake involving D.J. Greenlee. I repeated a racial slur I overheard when trying to stop the word from being used on the practice field. What I overheard, I had no right to repeat.

“While I did not direct the term at any player, I