Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney asked about the possibility of cutting players after 2025

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College football has changed dramatically in recent years, with the sport adopting more and more traits that once belonged strictly to the professional ranks. NIL, the transfer portal, and revenue-sharing models have pushed programs everywhere to operate with a business-like mindset when shaping rosters.

One trend that has emerged at some schools is the willingness to part ways with players who no longer fit the roster plan. But Dabo Swinney has made it clear that Clemson won’t be heading in that direction under his leadership.

“No. As long as a kid does what he is supposed to do here, he is going to have an opportunity to graduate from Clemson,” Swinney said during his Tuesday press conference. “That is just the way it is. It is always going to be that way as long as I am the head coach.”

For Swinney, the commitment to a player doesn’t end once the paperwork is signed. He has long described the relationship as something similar to a long-term partnership — one that lasts until a student earns a Clemson degree, regardless of their role on the field. That applies equally to the stars and to the walk-ons.

“If a kid comes to Clemson, he is a good kid and he is not a good enough player; that is on us,” Swinney said. “Long as he goes to class, he is a great effort guy, he is a good citizen, it’s till graduation do we part.”

That philosophy has helped the Tigers consistently rank among the nation’s leaders in both graduation rate and Academic Progress Rate during Swinney’s time in charge. It’s an area he has always taken seriously — and one he doesn’t intend to modify.

“We have led the nation in graduation the last three years, too,” he said. “And for a long time, we have been Top 10 academically. 14 years. That is the number one thing in this program is graduation.”

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson HC Dabo Swinney’s stance on cutting players hasn’t changed

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