The Clemson Tigers have landed a star cornerback in the transfer portal.
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are loading up on talent in the transfer portal, as they've landed star defensive back Donovan Starr.
Starr is transferring from Auburn and was a four-star recruit out of high school. He is the No. 25-ranked cornerback in the portal and will be an impactful addition to Clemson's defense.
The Tigers needed to add a cornerback after star Avieon Terrell declared for the NFL Draft. Terrell will be one of the top cornerbacks in the draft and a tough loss for Clemson's defense.
Starr can help fill that role and help their defense improve in the 2026 season. The Tigers are coming off a season where they underperformed, going 7-6 and losing in the Pinstripe Bowl to Penn State.
Clemson has grown to be one of the powerhouses in college football over the past decade. The Tigers won two National Championships and made it to four National Game Championship games.
However, they struggled in the 2025 season, despite being a favorite to make it to the College Football Playoff heading into the year.
Swinney now has to improve the roster and make many changes to get back on track for the 2026 campaign.
In the past, Swinney hasn't been aggressive in the transfer portal, preferring to recruit from high school and develop players. However, after a difficult season and with some players transferring out or heading to the NFL, Swinney is being forced to adapt.
This can be beneficial for Clemson in the long term, as they are finding talented players to add to the roster, such as Starr.
Swinney has made other changes to the Tigers, including firing offensive coordinator Garrett Riley after the season. They brought in Chad Morris, who previously served as Clemson's offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014, to replace Riley.
The biggest question mark remaining for the Tigers is at quarterback. Cade Klubnik finished out his senior season after starting for three years, leaving that spot open for Clemson.
Swinney and the Tigers have a long way to go in turning around the program this offseason, but the addition of Starr should help their secondary.