Dabo Swinney, Clemson Get Bad News After College Football Season

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Dabo Swinney, Clemson Get Bad News After College Football Season

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers ended their 2025 college football season on a down note, falling to Ethan Grunkemeyer and the Penn State Nittany Lions 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had a rough outing, completing 22-of-39 passes for 193 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Tigers finished the 2025 season with a 7-6 record, their worst under Swinney since a 6-7 mark in 2010, his second year with the program. And now, Clemson will have to search for its next quarterback as Klubnik’s final year of college eligibility comes to an end. But Swinney will also need to replace another key contributor on the defensive side of the ball.

Clemson Tigers safety Ricardo Jones (6) celebrates with cornerback Branden Strozier (1) during a college football game.© Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ricardo Jones, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety out of Northside High School in Warner Robins, Georgia, was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024 (247Sports). He ranked as the No. 172 prospect nationally, the 12th-best safety and the 20th-best player from the state of Georgia.

Jones earned a key role in Swinney’s defense during his freshman season, recording 22 tackles, a sack and an interception. In 2025, he took on an even larger role, emerging as one of Clemson’s top defenders with 39 tackles, an ACC-leading six interceptions and five pass breakups, earning second-team All-ACC honors in the process.

But on Saturday, it was revealed that Jones will be moving on from Clemson, entering the college football transfer portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

“BREAKING: Clemson starting safety Ricardo Jones is entering the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports,” On3’s Hayes Fawcett wrote on X. “This season he totaled 39 tackles, 6 INT (led ACC), 3 PD, and 1 FR Earned All-ACC honors”

Per On3, Jones is the eighth player Swinney has lost to this year’s transfer portal, also the third safety and fourth defensive back to depart. The Tigers appear to have significant work to do on the defensive side of the ball this offseason.

Related: Ohio State’s Caleb Downs Shares Off-Field Update After College Football Season

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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