Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have landed another defensive player in the transfer portal.
Clemson has landed another defensive player in the transfer portal, as edge rusher London Merritt has committed after spending his freshman season at Colorado.
In the 2025 season, Merritt had 23 total tackles and a sack across 12 games. He will join Clemson's defensive line and look to improve its pass rush.
The Tigers struggled in the 2025 season, falling well short of their College Football Playoff expectations. They went 7-6, ending their season with a loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Clemson's defense did a good job containing the run, allowing only 3.7 yards per carry (28th in the nation) and 108.9 yards per game (16th).
However, the Tigers weren't as effective in stopping the air attack. They allowed 225.6 passing yards per game (120th) and only intercepted 1.81 percent of passes (105th).
Bringing in a pass rusher like Merritt can help Clemson better defend the pass, leading to more sacks and creating pressure that can force turnovers.
The Tigers will need more than just Merritt on the defensive line, as they are losing star defensive tackle Peter Woods to the NFL Draft. Woods was an elite pass rusher and run stuffer and is a significant loss for their defense.
In the 2024 season, Woods had 28 total tackles, three sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss. He followed that up in 2025 with 30 total tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Woods is one of many players that the Tigers will need to replace on their defense. Clemson is losing more players to the NFL, like Avieon Terrell, and some in the transfer portal, like Shelton Lewis.
While it puts Clemson in a tough spot, particularly after an underwhelming season, Swinney has been more aggressive in adding through the transfer portal. They will need to continue utilizing the transfer portal to build out the roster to improve and compete in the 2026 season.
Merritt is the latest addition and joins a Tigers team looking to build on the success they've shown as a program over the last decade, with two National Championships in four appearances.