The Clemson Tigers could land a star defender in the transfer portal.
The Clemson Tigers bagged their first commitment of the transfer portal on Monday, coming to terms with former Florida State cornerback Elliot Washington II.
Now, it looks like Clemson may be closing in on yet another defensive back.
Former Old Dominion safety Jerome Carter III has revealed that the Tigers are one of four teams who are "standing out" to him in the transfer portal, with the others being Georgia Tech, Louisville and Mississippi State.
Carter would comprise one heck of a get for Clemson.
The three-star transfer arrived at Old Dominion in 2024 and logged 23 tackles in limited playing time during his freshman campaign. This past season, however, Carter racked up 75 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and led the Sun Belt with six interceptions.
The Tigers could definitely use help at the safety position after losing Ricardo Jones — who totaled six picks himself in 2025 — to the transfer portal. Clemson is also losing star cornerback Avieon Terrell to the NFL Draft, so its secondary as a whole could use some assistance.
Jerome Carter III. Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images.On top of that, the Tigers watched as defensive tackles Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart, edge rusher T.J. Parker and linebacker Wade Woodaz all declared for the draft, so Dabo Swinney's defense is certainly in rough shape right now.
Clemson is losing numerous offensive players to the draft, as well, namely quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Adam Randall and wide receiver Antonio Williams.
The Tigers entered the 2025 college football season with national championship aspirations, but went just 7-6 and lost to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl in what ended up being arguably the most disappointing campaign of the Swinney era.
It also marked Clemson's worst finish since going 6-7 in 2010, which was just Swinney's second year with the program.
Swinney has never been one to utilize the transfer portal, but he seems to understand it's a must this offseason with the team suddenly struggling and with so many key players departing.
We'll see if the Tigers can score big in the portal over the coming weeks. Carter would absolutely be a fantastic addition.