Clemson Faces Heavy Roster Turnover Ahead of Pinstripe Bowl Clash with Penn State
When Clemson takes the field at Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl on December 27, the roster will look a lot different than it did just a few weeks ago. The Tigers will be without 27 players due to a mix of NFL Draft declarations, injuries, and transfer portal departures. It’s a significant shake-up - one that would rattle most programs - but head coach Dabo Swinney isn’t flinching.
“We're not worried about who opted out. We're focused on who opted in,” Swinney said on December 15. And that’s the mindset Clemson is rolling with as they prepare to face Penn State.
NFL Draft Opt-Outs Lead the Exodus
Four juniors - wide receiver Antonio Williams, cornerback Avieon Terrell, defensive tackle Peter Woods, and edge rusher T.J. Parker - have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and won’t suit up for the bowl game. Terrell, Woods, and Parker are officially out, while Williams is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The loss of these four underclassmen hits hard. Each played a key role this season, and their absences will test the Tigers’ depth on both sides of the ball. Add in the opt-out of sixth-year defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, and Clemson’s defensive line rotation has been significantly thinned.
Tight end Ian Schieffelin - a former Clemson basketball player who made the transition to football - will also sit out.
Injuries Stack Up Across the Depth Chart
Injuries have further depleted the Tigers’ roster. Starting linebacker Wade Woodaz and offensive lineman Collin Sadler are both out. That’s in addition to a growing list of sidelined contributors, including starting wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., tight end Olsen Patt-Henry, and freshman offensive lineman Brayden Jacobs.
The offensive line, in particular, has been hit hard. Along with Sadler and Jacobs, Clemson is also down Elyjah Thurmon, Walker Parks, and Easton Ware - all due to injury. That’s five offensive linemen unavailable, which could force some creative shuffling up front.
The defensive front isn’t in much better shape. In addition to Woods and Capehart, the Tigers are missing Jahiem Lawson, Armon Mason, Amare Adams, and Makhi Williams-Lee. That’s a lot of size and experience missing in the trenches.
The backfield is also thin, with running backs Jay Haynes, Jarvis Green, Peyton Streko, and Keith Adams Jr. all out - the latter due to transfer. That leaves Clemson with limited options behind their lead back.
Transfer Portal Losses Add to the Challenge
Five players have entered the transfer portal, including starting safety Khalil Barnes - one of the more notable departures. Linebackers Jamal Anderson and Dee Crayton, cornerback Shelton Lewis, and running back Keith Adams Jr. round out the list of portal exits.
Losing Barnes is especially impactful. He was a key piece in the secondary, and his absence leaves a leadership void on the back end of the defense.
A Test of Depth - and Culture
Despite the long list of missing names, Swinney isn’t backing down from the challenge. In fact, he’s leaning into it.
“It’s a long list, but nobody cares,” he said. “It’s next-man up, excited to see these guys step up and go play.”
And that’s the heart of the story. Clemson isn’t just trying to patch together a roster for a bowl game - they’re trying to extend the longest active postseason winning streak in the FBS. Thirteen straight bowl wins is no small feat, and a fourteenth would speak volumes about the program’s culture, resilience, and ability to develop talent beyond the headline names.
This Pinstripe Bowl won’t feature the same Clemson lineup fans watched all season, but it will offer a glimpse of the Tigers’ future - young players stepping into the spotlight, backups getting their moment, and a coaching staff trying to hold it all together on one of college football’s biggest stages.
So while the roster may be light on experience, the stakes are still high. And if Clemson can pull off a win against a tough Penn State squad, it’ll say a lot about where this program is headed - even in a season that’s been anything but smooth.