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CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney didn’t want Ian Schieffelin to be forgotten.
At a recent “Clemson Road Show” event, Swinney alongside Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell, spoke about Schieffelin joining Clemson football as a tight end after spending four seasons the with basketball program.
Swinney conceded Schieffelin could have played professional basketball, but he’d probably have to go to “Afghanistan or somewhere” since he was a longshot to make the NBA. So Swinney convinced him to “call a timeout” on basketball.
“If you go over there, they’re going to forget about you forever,” Swinney said at the event. “If you want to play football, you’ll be a national story.”
Swinney said the idea of Schieffelin transitioning to football came after the 2025 NFL Draft in April. Swinney said he received text messages from one of Schieffelin’s representatives who wanted the Tigers coach’s advice on the former basketball forward playing football and possibly calling scouts to see if he could get an NFL tryout.
Swinney called Schieffelin soon after to inform him all 32 NFL teams would love to see him work out with his 6-foot-8, 240-pound measurements. Swinney added he would even make a camp with an NFL team “without a doubt.”
However, Swinney told Schieffelin scouts would love to evaluate him over an entire season instead of a phone-call tryout. Schieffelin decided to don shoulder pads and a helmet for his final year at Clemson.
Swinney has always praised Schieffelin for his football potential, seeing him as a tight end, defensive or offensive tackle. Schieffelin played quarterback and tight end at Grayson High School in Georgia through the 10th grade. He even played alongside former Clemson running back Phil Mafah but chose to focus on…
Source link : https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2025/05/11/clemson-football-dabo-swinney-ian-schieffelin-basketball/83557575007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-11 19:17:00
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