5 most painful Clemson transfer portal departures of all time

Tavien Feaster

Tavien Feaster played high school football in Spartanburg. He was ranked as the 29th-best overall player in the 247Sports Composite. He selected Clemson over Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, and Notre Dame. The fanbase was understandably excited for his arrival and penciled him in as the eventual successor to Wayne Gallman.

There was just one variable no one saw coming at that time: Travis Etienne. Both Feaster and Etienne passed veterans CJ Fuller and Adam Choice on the depth chart in 2017, but eventually, Etienne’s talent shined through. The situation wasn’t much different than the dynamic we saw from Bryant and Lawrence in 2018: Feaster was good, but Etienne was just special.

It stung when Feaster decided to transfer. It stung worse when he announced his destination: the archrival Gamecocks. To many fans, this was a betrayal that they never imagined could happen.

Feaster played well for the Gamecocks in 2019 but didn’t take a big leap and continued to fight for playing time, never separating from the pack. Etienne became Clemson’s undisputed star at running back and helped lead the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff and the national title game before falling to eventual champion LSU.

Next: Andrew Mukuba