It’s been a pretty fruitful spring for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.
After a 10-win season that culminated in the ninth ACC championship under Swinney with a 34-31 upset win over the SMU Mustangs in Charlotte, the Tigers have been busy this offseason with additions to their coaching staff, in recruiting, and even in the transfer portal.
Swinney tapped Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to lead the defense after parting ways with Wes Goodwin. Former player and fan favorite Ben Boulware has an expanded role in recruiting and as the team’s linebackers coach.
In the transfer portal, the Tigers added receiver Tristan Smith from Southeast Missouri State, linebacker Jeremiah Alexander from the Alabama Crimson Tide, and stud defensive lineman Will Heldt from Purdue.
Smith in particular impressed Swinney in Clemson’s annual Orange and White Spring Game by catching five passes for 137 yards, including a long 72-yard touchdown catch-and-run.
The Tigers also have several big pieces returning in 2025, namely quarterback Cade Klubnik. The former 5-star rrecruit out of Austin, Texas, is coming off his best season. He threw for a career-high 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to only six interceptions as a junior in 2024.
Freshmen receivers Bryant Wesco (41 catches, 708 yards) and T.J. Moore (45 catches, 651 yards) showed off their talent as 5-star recruits a year ago, while emerging receiver Antonio Williams (75 catches, 904 yards) had the best season of his collegiate career. Defensive line anchors T.J. Parker and Peter Woods also return as early 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch.
On Monday, USA TODAY Sports released its annual way-too-early college football Top 25 rankings following the conclusion of spring practices across the nation. The Tigers rank No. 5 in analysts Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith’s Top 25.
Myerberg said of…
Source link : https://clemsonwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/clemson/football/2025/04/28/clemson-football-top-25-college-football-rankings-spring/83328372007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-28 18:12:00
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