Clemson's Will Heldt Proves Dabo Swinney Isn't Making Sense

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The Clemson Tigers are no longer a powerhouse program, and that's largely because Dabo Swinney has refused to adapt to the modern era of college football.

I've actually credited Swinney for not just bowing down to this new Wild Wild West that we call the NCAA. In a way, it's refreshing.

But I'm also not sure exactly what he is trying to achieve here … or if he even knows.

While speaking to reporters this week, Swinney once again made it clear that he despises the transfer portal, saying that Clemson will "always be a developmental program."

In other words, the Tigers recruit players and develop them themselves.

Except some of Clemson's top guys right now are players they acquired via the transfer portal … like defensive end Will Heldt.

Heldt is viewed by many as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and thus far this season, he has racked up 18 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He's been a bit quiet (for his standards) the last three games, but he's been good.

But was Heldt a Clemson product? No. He began his career at Purdue in 2023 and spent two seasons with the Boilermakers, establishing himself as a productive defender before transferring to the Clemson in 2025.

Yes, Heldt had his best year to date during his debut campaign with the Tigers, rattling off 46 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, but during his final season at Purdue, he finished with 50 stops, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound pass rusher was already a force. Clemson just elevated him.

The same goes for safeties Jerome Carter and Corey Myrick, whom Swinney acquired via the transfer portal last winter. They've both been great this year, but they had already cemented themselves as impressive players prior to joining the Tigers.

Cornerback Elliot Washington didn't really play much at Penn State, but he was still a transfer addition for Clemson, and he has broken out this year to establish himself as a potential Day 2 draft pick.

As you can see, Swinney has bagged players in the portal who have come to Clemson and produced, and the Tigers have gotten the most out of them.

Another example is edge rusher London Merritt, who just transferred over from Colorado but has established himself as a critical piece along Clemson's front seven.

Heldt and the other names mentioned fly in the face of Swinney's assertion that the Tigers will forever be a program that recruits and develops.

And I'm not even sure Swinney realizes it.

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