Clemson Faces a New Reality: Transfer Portal Now a Must, Not a Maybe
CLEMSON - For years, Dabo Swinney held firm to his philosophy: build through high school recruiting, develop from within, and avoid the chaos of the transfer portal unless absolutely necessary. But the college football landscape has shifted, and even Swinney knows it. Following the announcement of Clemson’s 19-man 2026 signing class - with a 20th expected to join - Swinney acknowledged what’s now unavoidable.
“You don’t have any choice,” Swinney said. “It’s a different world we’re living in.”
The Tigers still aren’t diving headfirst into the portal like some programs, but they’re no longer sitting it out either. With rosters now expanded to 105 scholarship players, attrition through decommitments and outbound transfers is forcing Clemson to adapt. Swinney's approach remains rooted in loyalty - he won’t push players out just to make room - but the numbers are what they are.
A Changing Formula
Clemson’s portal strategy is reactive by design. If a high school recruit decommits or a player transfers out, that opens the door for a portal addition.
Last year, the Tigers signed three transfers after seven high school decommits. This year, the math is still shaking out, but the early signs point to a similar - if not larger - need for outside help.
Four verbal commits didn’t sign with Clemson on National Signing Day, including safeties Kaden Gebhardt and Blake Stewart, and defensive linemen Keshawn Stancil and Dre Quinn. Stewart and Gebhardt both flipped to Georgia, while Stancil and Quinn are headed to Miami and Ohio State, respectively.
While Clemson managed to flip East Carolina defensive end Michael Foster to help offset the losses up front, they didn’t bring in any safeties to replace Stewart or Gebhardt. That leaves a gap on the back end of the defense - and likely a portal target.
“Some of these kids will decommit two weeks before signing day,” Swinney said. “It’s hard to replace that with a high school kid.
So you got a gap. So you gotta go fill that.”
Positional Outlook: Where Clemson Stands
Some positions are in better shape than others. At wide receiver, the Tigers might actually be adding more than they’re losing.
Antonio Williams is the only expected departure, and depending on eligibility rulings, Tristan Smith - who started in junior college - could return. Clemson signed three freshmen wideouts in Naeem Burroughs, Connor Salmin, and Gordon Sellars, giving the room a fresh infusion of talent.
But the defensive line tells a different story. Clemson is set to lose three defensive ends - Zaire Patterson, Cade Denhoff, and Armon Mason - and potentially T.J.
Parker to the NFL. In return, they have just freshmen and JR Hardrick in the pipeline.
Defensive tackle isn’t much deeper. DeMonte Capehart is gone, and freshman Kam Cody is the lone addition.
If Peter Woods declares for the draft, the Tigers could be staring at a serious depth issue in the trenches.
Linebacker is another area to watch. With reserve Dee Crayton expected to enter the portal on January 2 and Wade Woodaz graduating, Clemson has two open spots.
They’ve added one linebacker in Brayden Reilly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll bring in another. Numbers at linebacker often depend on scheme and special teams needs.
The Quarterback Question
One of the biggest unknowns heading into 2026 is the quarterback room. Clemson signed two high school quarterbacks - Tait Reynolds and Brock Bradley - and Cade Klubnik is the only one currently slated to leave. That leaves Christopher Vizzina and Chris Denson battling for the top spot, but the real question is whether the Tigers feel confident enough in that group to avoid the portal.
Swinney, for his part, is putting faith in the guys already on campus.
“Now it’s [Vizzina’s] time. Now he’s gotta win the job,” Swinney said.
“And Denson didn’t come here to stand on the sideline. He came here to compete.
So, let’s go compete.”
That’s classic Swinney - backing his players while keeping the door open for competition. But when pressed on whether Clemson might make a late move at quarterback, he didn’t rule anything out.
“We could have somebody leave. We have no idea,” he said. “All I can focus on is what’s here.”
A Class That Stuck Through the Storm
Despite a rocky 1-3 start and a five-loss season, Clemson’s 2026 class held mostly firm. Only four decommits in a year like this?
That’s not nothing. Swinney compared the group’s loyalty to the 2011 class that stuck with him after a 6-7 finish in his second full season.
“In a season like this, where there’s just so much negativity and attack on your program, attack on the coach - because that’s what we do when things don’t go exactly the way we planned - for them to block all that out and say, ‘No, this is what we’re doing,’ and we align … that type of conviction and belief?” Swinney said. “It’s a special group, man.”
What’s Next?
With the portal officially opening on January 2, Clemson’s next phase of roster building is just beginning. Swinney knows there will be movement - both out and in - but the exact number of additions is still a mystery.
“I don’t really know,” he said. “I know what our needs are.
But I don’t know if we’re gonna sign two guys or we’re gonna sign seven guys. I have no idea.
Because our roster is not settled.”
That uncertainty is the new norm in college football. For Clemson, a program built on stability and development, it’s an adjustment. But it’s one they’re now making - not by choice, but by necessity.
Clemson’s 2026 Signing Class
- Connor Salmin, WR, 6-1, 195, Potomac, Md. /The Bullis School
- **Shavar Young Jr. **, CB, 5-11, 180, Knoxville, Tenn.
/Webb School of Knoxville
- Tayveon Wilson, TE, 6-3, 205, Huntington, W.V.
/Huntington
- Carter Scruggs, OL, 6-5, 290, Leesburg, Va.
/Loudoun County
- Brayden Reilly, LB, 6-3, 200, Cincinnati, Ohio/St.
Xavier
- Leo Delaney, OL, 6-6, 290, Charlotte, N.C.
/Providence Day
- Polo Anderson, DB, 6-2, 190, Roebuck, S.C.
/Dorman
- Chancellor Barclay, OL, 6-4, 290, Orlando, Fla.
/The First Academy
- Kam Cody, DL, 6-2, 285, Savannah, Ga.
/Benedictine Military School
- Gordon Sellars, WR, 6-2, 180, Charlotte, N.C.
/Providence Day
- Naeem Burroughs, WR, 5-11, 175, Jacksonville, Fla.
/The Bolles School
- Adam Guthrie, OL, 6-7, 285, Washington Court House, Ohio/Miami Trace
- Brock Bradley, QB, 5-11, 185, Hoover, Ala. /Spain Park
- Grant Wise, OL, 6-3, 320, Milton, Fla. /Pace
- Braden Wilmes, OL, 6-8, 280, Lawrence, Kan. /Lawrence Free State
- Marcell Gipson, CB, 5-11, 170, Dallas, Tex. /South Oak Cliff
- JR Hardrick, DE, 6-6, 231, South Pittsburg, Tenn. /South Pittsburg
- Tait Reynolds, QB, 6-2, 220, Queen Creek, Ariz. /Queen Creek
- Jackson Reach, LS, 6-2, 220, Manhattan Beach, Calif. /Mira Costa
- Michael Foster, DE, 6-3, 230, Fort Mill, S.C. /Indian Land
The Tigers may not be all-in on the portal, but they’re no longer on the sidelines either. In today’s college football, flexibility is key - and Clemson is learning to bend without breaking.