Clemson commitment now in doubt amid flip prediction

Clemson football and coach Dabo Swinney secured a major commitment for their 2026 recruiting class back in June, landing four-star defensive lineman Keshawn Stancil. However, that commitment now appears to be on shaky ground.

On June 28, 2025, the 6-foot-3, 270-pound standout from Clayton High School in North Carolina announced his commitment to Clemson, choosing the Tigers over a list of finalists that included Georgia, Miami, NC State, and Penn State.

Stancil is a highly-touted prospect, rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 10 player in North Carolina and the No. 20 defensive lineman nationally. His commitment was a significant win for the Tigers, building on an impressive junior year where he recorded 63 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles, according to MaxPreps.

He became the 20th commitment in Clemson's 2026 class and the fourth defensive lineman, joining four-star Dre Quinn and three-stars Kameron Cody and JR Hardrick. At the time, his pledge helped solidify Swinney's 2026 class as No. 7 nationally.

New Prediction Signals Potential Flip

Despite his summer commitment, speculation has mounted this fall. In late October 2025, prominent college football recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong logged an expert prediction, known as a "Fong Bomb," projecting that Stancil will decommit from Clemson and flip to a former finalist: Miami.

The prediction was logged with a 60% confidence level, signaling a serious threat to one of the key defensive pieces in Clemson's 2026 class. Should Stancil flip, it would be a significant recruiting loss for Clemson and a massive pickup for Miami, who were a strong contender from the beginning.