Dabo Swinney reshapes Clemson football in transfer era

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney talks about annual Orange and White Spring game

The Clemson Tigers football annual Orange and White Spring game was held on April 5, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson

Dabo Swinney’s done it. Clemson’s transfer-averse coach built a team that looks poised to thrive in this transfer-fueled era.Cade Klubnik gives Clemson a proven quarterback. Dabo Swinney thrives when he has his best quarterbacks.Clemson leads nation in returning production, according to an ESPN metric.

Dabo’s done it.

The transfer-averse coach built a team that sure looks poised to thrive in this transfer-fueled era.

Sportsbooks are snoozing on Clemson, but the stat nerds are wide awake.

Dabo Swinney’s Tigers have, on average, about a 14-to-1 betting chance of winning the national championship. Those odds trail seven other teams.

Betting sharps probably noticed this nugget, though, from ESPN’s analytics guru Bill Connelly: Clemson returns more production than any other team, according to Connelly’s metrics. His analysis accounts for inbound transfers – not that Clemson features many.

Clemson’s veteran, talented roster reminds me a bit of Swinney’s teams from a heyday when he won two national championships in three years behind proven quarterbacks, talented wide receivers and stingy defenses.

While many of Swinney’s peers play the transfer sweepstakes, he persists with a recruit, develop and retain methodology.

“I’m not against the portal, but … this is not a catch-and-release program,” Swinney said earlier this offseason on “The Unafraid Show” podcast. “This is not a place where we’re going to run guys off.

“We know exactly what we’re looking for. We’re unique, and we’re different in our approach.”

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Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/acc/2025/06/13/clemson-football-dabo-swinney-transfer-portal/84120272007/

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Publish date : 2025-06-13 10:05:00

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