\u201cI think any time you bring new people in, good players \u2014 whether it’s a transfer or it’s a really talented freshman \u2014 you better be ready to compete,\u201d Swinney said. \u201cWe’ve had a lot of freshmen start here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut those guys,\u201d he said of the transfers, \u201chave been exactly what we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swinney admitted the Tigers needed more speed and experience in the secondary, more physicality and competition on the D-Line.<\/p>\n
His belief Clemson\u2019s in-house talent, however, doesn\u2019t appear fundamentally shaken.<\/p>\n
For instance, Clemson wanted to add a senior offensive lineman as a bridge to the talent in Luke\u2019s last two recruiting classes. But Swinney isn\u2019t regretting a portal miss there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve answered that question mark already after five practices,\u201d Swinney said, indicating redshirt freshman Easton Ware<\/a> has been tentatively \u201chired\u201d at one tackle spot after sitting out last season with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n One transfer signee, Cal linebacker Luke Ferrelli, skipped off to Ole Miss in a tampering controversy<\/a> and torpedoed Clemson\u2019s plan there.<\/p>\n But a few practices in, Allen is less uneasy about Kobe McCloud, Jeremiah Alexander, or another darkhorse emerging alongside Sammy Brown<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel way better,\u201d Allen said, \u201cjust because I feel like there’s a bunch of hungry guys in there that have something to prove.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone does, to some degree, after such a disappointing fall.<\/p>\n But some challenges have been levied more directly than others.<\/p>\n