More bad news for Dabo: 4-Star safety decommits from Clemson

The on-field disaster at Clemson is now officially a recruiting crisis.

The latest blow to Dabo Swinney's embattled program came Monday as 4-star safety Blake Stewart, a key piece of the 2026 recruiting class, announced he is decommitting from the Tigers. The move is a direct consequence of the team's stunning collapse to 3-4 and adds another layer of pressure to a head coach facing the most intense scrutiny of his career.

Stewart, a highly-touted defensive back out of Atlanta, had been a prized summer commitment for the Tigers, choosing them over programs like Michigan and Miami. But as Clemson's season has spiraled into a historic disappointment, rival programs, particularly Miami and Georgia, never stopped their pursuit.

The decommitment is the second major loss for Clemson's 2026 class, following the departure of 4-star defensive end Dre Quinn in September.

For a program that has built its brand on culture and stability, the loss of a top-tier recruit is a damning indictment. It validates the scathing critiques from national media figures like ESPN's Paul Finebaum and Cam Newton, who have argued that Swinney's "old school" refusal to aggressively engage with NIL and the transfer portal has made the program "irrelevant."

Stewart's departure is particularly painful as it hits a position of need. His skill set was seen as a perfect fit for the nickel position, a spot where the current roster has struggled. Now, not only has Clemson lost a solution, but defensive coordinator Tom Allen has also indicated the program will likely have to turn to the transfer portal this offseason—the very tool Swinney has been famously reluctant to use—to find answers on the back end.

The message from the recruiting trail is becoming brutally clear: the shine is off the Clemson brand. While Swinney preaches patience and promises a return to championship glory, the top talent is no longer waiting around to see if he can deliver.