Where Dabo Swinney, Clemson football are struggling in the transfer portal again
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CLEMSON — Clemson football has been active in the transfer portal, but the Tigers still have critical needs to address before the portal closes Jan. 16.
Clemson has added 10 transfers with nine additions coming on defense and one on offense. That’s a program record, for coach Dabo Swinney, whose previous record was three last year.
The Tigers have revamped their defense, but their offense will be a huge question mark after bringing in new offensive coordinator Chad Morris and losing starters at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive line.
So far, Clemson has not landed a transfer quarterback and has struck out at other positions on offense. The Tigers’ lone offensive addition is SMU running back Chris Johnson Jr., who they landed on Jan. 11.
Outside of quarterback, here are other pressing needs Clemson must address before the portal closes for new players to enter except those on Indiana and Miami because they made the national championship.
Who will protect Dabo Swinney, Clemson starting quarterback in 2026?
Clemson’s starting quarterback in 2026 is a mystery. Who will protect him may be a bigger one.
The Tigers lost starting tackles Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh, center Ryan Linthicum and right guard Walker Parks as all exhausted their eligibility. Clemson has four players who are expected to start in 2026: Harris Sewell, Collin Sadler, Elyjah Thurmon and Brayden Jacobs.
Sewell (17 starts in 35 games) and Sadler (15 in 28 games) have starting experience, and Thurmon (two in 11 games) and Jacobs (four in 10 games) have limited playing time but showed flashes to handle starting duties. All except Sewell will enter next season coming off of season-ending injuries.
Behind them is plenty of inexperience with Ronan O’Connell being the only player who has made a start. Clemson signed six freshman offensive linemen who could come in and have an immediate impact.
Clemson has pursued offensive linemen in the portal – Tennessee’s Lance Heard, ECU’s Kojo Poku, Michigan State’s Stanton Ramil, Georgia Southern’s Johnnie Brown III – but missed out on all of them. This continued the Tigers’ trend of never landing a transfer offensive lineman after pursuing four last year and some in 2023.
The Tigers need to add an offensive lineman or two, including a tackle, or whoever will be Clemson’s starting quarterback will face trouble next season.
Will Clemson target receiver depth with Tristan Smith’s eligibility in flux?
Clemson should be strong at receiver in 2026. Despite losing Antonio Williams to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tigers retained top receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. There is also Tyler Brown, Cole Turner, Juju Preston and three freshman signees, including Naeem Burroughs.
Still, injuries can happen with Williams and Wesco both missing games in 2025 because of them. Tristan Smith, a 6-foot-5 receiver who transferred to Clemson in 2025, is also pursuing an additional year of eligibility after spending two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas and playing at Southeast Missouri State, an FCS program, last year.
Smith caught 24 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown this season. If his appeal is unsuccessful, Clemson could benefit from adding another lengthy receiver who can win contested matchups on the outside.
Who is visiting Clemson football?
Here’s the list of players who have visited or are considering Clemson, according to various reports.
- Michigan RB Justice Haynes (considering)
- Pitt DL Francis Brewu (considering)
- Tennessee DL Caleb Herring (considering)
- Michigan State S Justin Denson Jr. (considering)
- Penn State CB Kenny Woseley Jr. (visited Jan. 7)
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football, Dabo Swinney struggle at OL in transfer portal again
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