Dabo Swinney is entering his 17th full season at Clemson and he has been outspoken about the transfer portal and his reluctance to use it except as a means for filling gaps on his roster and not “trying to outbid people” for high school players and paying them large sums of money before they prove themselves in college.
Rather than joining the chaos and frenzy college programs typically indulge in during transfer portal cycles, Swinney is doubling down on what made Clemson great in the first place: stability, loyalty, and a strong locker room culture. Although he’s now made significant additions to his squad in this spring’s portal.
Clemson Goes Strategic in 2025 Transfer Portal and Scores Quiet Wins Across the Board
The Clemson Tigers lost five transfers in the winter cycle and one player in the spring portal. However, the impact of the losses isn’t very significant as those exits weren’t key team members, and there are adequate replacements in the squad already.
Swinney also added three new faces to his squad through the transfer portal.
Will Heldt, Tristan Smith, and Jeremiah Alexander are the Tigers’ additions in this portal cycle. The three new faces are expected to be major contributors to the team next season. Heldt was Clemson’s top transfer, choosing the Tigers over Texas A&M and LSU after playing two seasons with Purdue.
He recorded 26 pressures with Purdue in 2024, which exceeded the total for every Clemson defensive lineman except T.J. Parker. Smith recorded 76 catches for 934 yards and six touchdowns last season for Southeast Missouri State. He joins an already talented crop of receivers at Clemson.
Alexander recorded eight tackles over three seasons as a linebacker with Alabama. He is expected to provide backup to Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown.
Swinney has quietly and effectively plugged important holes in the Clemson squad through the transfer portal.
KEEP READING: Dabo Swinney and Jesse Cole Celebrate Historic Moment with Savannah Bananas
Troy Stellato, Trey Williams, A.J. Hoffler, Sherrod Covil Jr, Noble Johnson, and Tavoy Feagin make up the crew of exits from last year’s squad.
Swinney managed to retain the core of his squad and add fresh faces, with Clemson not really affected by the transfer portal chaos.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
