The Clemson Tigers succeeded in the transfer portal in this one crucial area.
The Clemson Tigers are not known for using the transfer portal. In fact, between 2022 and 2025, Clemson bagged a grand total of five transfers.
Well, the Tigers doubled that number this winter, securing 10 additions via the portal, with nine of those coming on the defensive side of the ball.
Considering Clemson's defense was hit hard by both the NFL Draft and the transfer portal this offseason, its activity in that area is not surprising.
The Tigers lost both of their starting safeties, Ricardo Jones and Khalil Barnes, to the portal, so it was obviously imperative for Dabo Swinney to replace them.
Swinney did just that, landing former Southern Mississippi star Corey Myrick as well as ex-Old Dominion defensive back Jerome Carter.
While Clemson was actually criticized by some for replacing Jones and Barnes with two players from lower-tier schools, Pro Football Focus seems to love what the Tigers did.
Actually, Myrick was the highest-rated safety addition of the portal, with PFF tabbing him with an 87.3 grade. Carter came in eighth at 76.3.
Corey Myrick makes a tackle. Credit: Matt Bush/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Myrick racked up 92 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a couple of interceptions and four passes defended in 2025. He actually began his career at Marshall in 2024, but transferred to Southern Mississippi after one season.
He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Meanwhile, Carter tallied 75 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and six picks this past year. He arrived at Old Dominion in 2024, but did not begin earning significant playing time until his sophomore campaign.
Like Myrick, Carter has two years of eligibility left.
Clemson went just 7-6 last season, representing its worst finish since going 6-7 during Swinney's second year with the program back in 2010.
The Tigers have certainly fallen on hard times in recent years. They made four National Championship Game appearances between 2015 and 2019, winning two titles. But since then, Clemson has been fading into near irrelevancy.
Swinney's archaic roster-building methods have been a big reason for the Tigers' fall, but he definitely displayed he is open to change this offseason.
We just have to hope Swinney's shift is not a case of too little, too late.
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