Clemson Football: Putting a bow on the recruiting Class of 2023

As 2022 winds down the Clemson football coaching staff is winding up the 2023 recruiting class with two commitments last week, the latest being Bogart, Georgia defensive back Khalil Barnes.

Dabo Swinney feels the Tigers have addressed many of the team’s needs; I would largely agree.

There’s a quarterback, which is always needed in the NIL and transfer portal era, that appears to fit not only culturally but also stylistically.

There’s a haul along the defensive line, which is definitely needed, and an area that will be one to watch in the spring and into next season.  It’s been a strength of the team for the better part of a decade and there’ll likely be a lot of new, young faces playing big roles in 2023.

There are two offensive linemen in the top 210 players in the 247sports.com rankings and three in the top 285.

"“The hay is pretty much in the barn,” Dabo Swinney said about the 2023 class. “Maybe the door’s cracked a little bit, maybe we can stuff a little bit more in there.”"

There are likely to be additional transfers out after the depth chart shakes out after spring practice and while Clemson has reached out to a few players in the portal, I don’t expect that they’re going to do more than Dabo has indicated they’ll do: Fill holes with players that fit the system and culture, i.e. a quarterback to replace Hunter Johnson, for example.

Clemson football fans shouldn’t expect major contributors from the transfer portal

Expecting much more is setting yourself up for disappointment in my opinion.

Clemson is a developmental program with a unique culture.   A culture, I might add, that has served the university and football program extremely well.

In addition, the Tigers already have two in the tank for the Class of 2024 in safety Tavoy Feagin, a four star safety from Tampa and kicker Nolan Hauser from Cornelius, North Carolina.