Will Dabo Swinney be active in 2025 transfer portal for Clemson football? What moves to expect

Is this the cycle Clemson football uses the transfer portal to add a scholarship player who isn’t a backup quarterback?

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said last week the team’s portal use will be determined by how many spots are available, which he pointed out has “been the case every year.” The portal opened on Monday.

“It just depends. If there’s something unexpected happen. Right now, we don’t expect any unexpected. But who knows? It’s a good tool to know you can go get a guy if you need it.”

Swinney faced criticism this season for being one of four FBS schools and the only Power 4 team to not add a transfer. Despite the criticism, he has been adamant about Clemson’s retention of key starters and contributors. Still, this may be the year Swinney uses the portal to land someone if the unexpected happens.

A potential portal need for the Tigers will be at wide receiver. They are down to eight scholarship wide receivers (including incoming signee JuJu Preston) after Troy Stellato and Noble Johnson both entered the portal. Clemson often hangs around 10 wide receivers.

Swinney said the team may add another wide receiver either via high school recruiting or the portal. Clemson is targeting four-star wide receiver Donovan Murph from Columbia but may add a second-year player in the portal to provide depth behind starting wide receivers Antonio Williams, Tyler Brown, Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore.

Another portal need can be at safety. R.J. Mickens will be gone, Tyler Venables can either depart or return because of a COVID year and Sherrod Covil Jr. reportedly entered the portal. Clemson came into the 2024 season with 10 safeties and could be at eight (including incoming signee Jakarrion Kenan).

Only Mickens, Khalil Barnes and Kylon Griffin made starts at safety this season. Clemson can add a proven safety through the portal and have him play alongside Barnes to strengthen its back end.

Clemson signed 15 recruits in its 2025 class, which ranks 26th in the 247Sports Composite rankings. It is Clemson’s smallest class since 2017, which Swinney expected as he anticipates many of his current 85 scholarship players back.

The Tigers will lose many senior or fifth-year players including: running back Phil Mafah, tight end Jake Briningstool, linebacker Barrett Carter, defensive tackle Payton Page, offensive lineman Marcus Tate and Mickens. Others may return like offensive lineman Walker Parks.

Unexpected departures can happen too if quarterback Cade Klubik, wide receiver Antonio Williams, linebacker Wade Woodaz and offensive lineman Blake Miller (all third-year players) opt to enter the NFL draft. If any of these moves happen, Swinney would likely use the portal to replace the player.

Swinney refuses to use the portal to replace a current player. If a scholarship opening happens, he tends to reward current players. This happened in the spring after two players transferred in the second portal window that left one scholarship opening. Swinney gave the last spot to third-year walk-on offensive lineman Chapman Pendergrass.