Dabo Swinney continues to approach college football at Clemson in a manner that neglects the new reality of the sport. He has publicly stated his dislike toward NIL on multiple occasions in the past (even if he tried to backtrack) and hardly even considered the transfer portal during the offseason.
It is a truly remarkable feat!
The Tigers were the only program in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big-12 and defunct Pac-12 that did not take a single transfer thus far in 2024. Not one. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Just to compare, here is how things looked around the country:
- Ole Miss — 19 transfer
- Oregon — 13 transfers
- Texas A&M — 25 transfers
- Alabama — 12 transfers
- Florida State — 16 transfers
- Colorado — 36 (!!) transfers
- Washington — 20 transfers
- Louisville — 30 transfers
- South Carolina — 20 transfers
- California — 19 transfers
Even schools like Eastern Michigan, UConn, Louisiana Tech, UMass, Utah State and Arkansas State took 10 or more transfers. Weber State took two. Utah Tech took five.
Only Air Force, Navy, Army and…
CLEMSON did not take one!
Make of it what you will, but Swinney’s strategy goes against the proven model for success in the modern era of college football. Multiple programs have showed over the last few years that the transfer portal can be the difference between success and failure.
It is the perfect opportunity to add positions of need.
Ohio State is considered a top national championship contender because Ryan Day added some of the best players in the country to bolster his already-talented roster. The transfer portal can supplement what has already been built through traditional high school recruiting and past transfers.
Swinney and the Tigers barely even tried! They went (at least) 0-2.
According to the legendary Pete Nakos of On3, Clemson offered Division-II offensive tackle Alan Herron out of Shorter University. He went to Maryland. Middle Tennessee offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge also received an offer. He went to Georgia Tech.
There may have been a few more offers extended, but those players also went elsewhere if there was.
I will reserve judgement on Dabo Swinney’s bizarre approach to the transfer portal until the season gets underway. However, it is hard to imagine that this strategy is going to bode well for the Tigers.
Even if the starting 22 is sured-up, there was a missed opportunity to grab depth from the portal. For Clemson to not even take one transfer is truly dumbfounding!