Dabo Swinney doesn’t need many words to explain how different this winter has felt. One analogy did the job.
“I feel like a preacher at a Vegas wedding chapel,” Swinney said this week, describing the nonstop pace of his first fully active transfer-portal cycle.
The line came during an interview with Andy Staples and captured the churn Clemson has navigated since the portal reopened Jan. 2. Prospects have arrived and departed in rapid succession, some staying only hours as programs across the country race to secure commitments.
For Clemson, the urgency is new — and necessary. The Clemson Tigers finished 7–6 in 2025, their first losing season in more than a decade, and watched 14 players enter the portal. The combination forced a philosophical pivot from a staff long known for roster continuity.
This winter looks nothing like last year’s restrained approach, when Clemson added just three transfers. As of Jan. 14, Swinney has already welcomed 10 newcomers, a number that would have seemed unthinkable in Tigertown just two years ago.
Even with the increased activity, Swinney insists Clemson hasn’t compromised its principles. He said the staff waited until the portal officially opened before initiating contact — a pointed contrast to the early deals and rapid-fire commitments seen elsewhere.
“We don’t do that,” Swinney said. “Some of the best players go in the portal and 10 minutes later they’re committed. That ain’t how we operate here. We’re going to do it right.”
The results have been immediate, particularly on defense. Clemson has added nine defensive transfers to bolster a unit now led by coordinator Tom Allen, addressing depth and experience concerns that surfaced throughout the season.
Offensively, the Tigers added speed with SMU running back Chris Johnson Jr., their lone offensive portal pickup to date. His arrival aligns with the return of Chad Morris, hired to spark change on that side of the ball.
The volume, the pace, and even the imagery are all new for Swinney. Yet as Clemson reshapes its roster in real time, the coach’s colorful description underscores a broader reality: the Tigers are no longer standing apart from the portal era — they’re fully in it.
Whether the whirlwind leads to a bounce-back season will be decided in the fall. For now, Clemson is embracing a revolving door that never stops spinning.