CLEMSON — In nearly eight years since the NCAA transfer portal was first introduced, the college football world at large has embraced the change.

Defending national champion Indiana and runner-up Miami brought in a combined 42 transfers — including starting quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck — the offseason before meeting in the College Football Playoff title game. Despite the portal’s controversies and its contribution to muddled eligibility rules, it’s hard to say some teams that’ve leaned into using the portal haven’t been rewarded.

And then you have Clemson.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney hasn’t been shy about his thoughts on the system and his program’s philosophy to avoid leaning heavily on the portal for roster construction. 

But after a 2025 season which featured an underwhelming performance from Clemson’s defense under first-year coordinator Tom Allen, Swinney and his staff chose to make some concessions. The Tigers ranked 55th nationally in total defense last season, allowing 20.5 average points per game and 30-plus points in three games on the way to a 7-6 record. Clemson needed to restore its defense to its expectations while also replacing the production of five NFL draftees from the Tigers defense.

Clemson brought in 11 transfers this offseason, including nine defensive players. The 2026 Tigers transfer class amounted to more portal signees than each offseason combined since the transfer portal was created in 2018.

Allen said at Clemson’s local media day July 14 he feels better entering the 2026 season with a crop of new personnel.

“We’ve got some new faces there to help us get even better,” Allen said. “You feel better, in some ways, about the length that we’ve added, the speed that we’ve added. … There’s no doubt there’s more pieces that you feel better about in that regard, but at the same time we’ve got to go out and produce.”

Clemson added five players to its defensive front to make up for the loss of T.J. Parker, Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart to the NFL and Stephiylan Green transferring to LSU. As for the secondary, and that speed and length Allen mentioned, the Tigers signed four defensive backs in hopes of bringing the nation’s 120th ranked pass defense up to speed.

Allen also emphasized the need for Sammy Brown and the rest of Clemson’s linebacker group to take a step forward. The group’s development will be especially important considering Luke Ferrelli, Clemson’s would-be lone LB transfer, ultimately flipped to Ole Miss in a move which triggered an ongoing NCAA tampering investigation.

“The linebacker position is one we focused on, everybody knows that,” Allen said. “Those guys stepping up and Sammy elevating his play.”

It won’t be known if the Tigers’ defensive rebuild was a success until games are played in 2026. But it’s clear Clemson was willing to try whatever it took.

“Had the chance to … find out who these guys are, how they’re gonna handle adversity, how they’re gonna handle success and how they’re gonna show up every day,” Allen said. “Those guys stuck out in those areas, and they’re here now and they’ve proved to be great fits for Clemson.”

Clemson football 2026 transfer class

Devarrick Woods, DL

Chris Johnson Jr., RB

C.J. Wesley, EDGE

Markus Strong, DL

London Merritt, EDGE

Donovan Starr, CB

Jerome Carter III, S

Corey Myrick, S

Elliot Washington II, CB

Jaylen Brown-Wallace, WR

Kourtney Kelly, DL