The Clemson football program has yet to take a prospect from the NCAA Transfer Portal, but that could all change very soon.
Dabo Swinney has remained steadfast in his approach that he’d rather stay away from transfers and recruit through the traditional high school method if possible, but he did take the first steps toward adapting the program when he changed Danny Pearman’s role to ‘Director of Scouting’ earlier this spring.
Though Swinney is not going to be quick to jump into the NCAA Transfer Portal, he did reveal that the Tigers are open to taking a transfer if that prospect fits the bill of what they’re looking for.
With the latest injuries and transfers from the program, he could be forced to go to the Transfer Portal a little earlier than many expected.
Clemson football could take multiple players from NCAA Transfer Portal
For a program that hasn’t taken a player from the transfer portal yet, Clemson football could be looking intently at the portal this summer.
Swinney told the media before the start of spring practice that the Tigers were low at cornerback and that he wouldn’t just take anybody, but if there was a multi-year starter who they felt could make a difference, they would reach out.
Now, with the injury to backup QB Taisun Phommachanh, he might be forced to look at quarterbacks in the portal, as well.
Swinney talked glowingly about his incoming quarterbacks- Bubba Chandler, Will Taylor and walk-on Billy Wiles- when asked about the position following the news of Phommachanh’s injury.
"“We have three good young quarterbacks we will be adding into the mix. We will have five guys here and we will evaluate all summer long and see what we have to do to give ourselves the best chance to be successful,” Swinney said via The Clemson Insider. “Hopefully, these guys will come in here and be ready to go to work and compete.”"
The Tigers will have four quarterbacks behind D.J. Uiagalelei with Hunter Helms likely competing heavily with Bubba Chandler for that backup position. Still, no one can rule out the possibility of Clemson going after a grad-transfer type quarterback who could fill the backup role effectively and provide depth should something happen to Uiagalelei.
With the uncertainty at the QB position behind Uiagalelei and the lack of bodies at cornerback, we could be hearing Clemson’s name frequently when players enter the NCAA Transfer Portal throughout the rest of this spring and heading into the summer.
Do the Tiger end up taking a transfer? That remains to be seen. But it’s not out of the question that they take at least one and- who knows- it might end up being multiples before it’s all said and done.