Clemson Football: Beaux Collins and Mitchell Mayes enter portal; Tigers offer offensive lineman

The transfer portal hasn’t officially opened yet, but the news still comes left and right. I like to call this time of year “As The Portal Turns”.

To clarify, some exceptions allow players to enter the portal before the window officially opens on Monday. If a player’s head coach leaves or is dismissed, they can enter the portal as soon as they are ready. For example, players from Duke, Texas A&M, Michigan State, or UCLA can enter the portal right now.

Graduates are also allowed to enter the portal any time they are ready. Lastly, sometimes when someone announces they are ‘entering the portal’ they are simply announcing their future intentions.

Clemson saw backup quarterback Hunter Helms decide to transfer yesterday. Yesterday, veteran offensive line backup Mitchell Mayes announced that he is entering the portal as well.

Like Helms, Mayes has been in the program for several years but has had limited opportunities to start, so I imagine playing time is his motivator.

Then the bigger name hit this morning. Beaux Collins will be entering the portal to play elsewhere next season.

On the other side, Clemson has officially offered a player in the portal an opportunity to join the Tigers. Alan Herron from Division II Shorter announced a Clemson offer on X.

Before you question why Clemson is offering a Division II player, watch a little of this.

Herron also announced an offer from Penn State. It’s hard to know how he will fit in if he joins the program because the level of competition in this video is well below what he will face in the ACC, but as you can see from the video, he has the size.

Based on what I am seeing from the insiders, I don’t think we’ve seen the last departure or the last offer.

Clemson Football is already active in the transfer portal

Elsewhere, a notable opponent that got the best of the Tigers this season announced his entry into the portal.

Riley Leonard’s head coach, Mike Elko, has taken a new job with Texas A&M. My first instinct was that Leonard could become an Aggie, but 247Sports Crystal Balls are already popping up for Notre Dame.

Speaking of A&M, with the firing of Jimbo Fisher, Aggie players could enter the portal early. Quarterback Max Johnson did, and quickly found a new home just up the road from Clemson.

Drake Maye is presumably entering the NFL Draft, so Johnson would be the heir apparent in Chapel Hill.

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