Clemson's Unique Transfer Portal Strategy: Focus on High School Recruits

While most college sports programs rely heavily on the transfer portal, Clemson University has adopted a different approach, choosing to prioritize high school recruits over transfers. This strategy has its benefits and drawbacks, as analyzed in this article.

Clemson University, recognized for its consistent success in college football, has raised eyebrows in the sports world by adopting a unique approach to the transfer portal. Unlike many other programs that have actively pursued transfers to bolster their rosters, Clemson has opted to focus primarily on high school recruits, a strategy that has sparked both intrigue and some skepticism.

In the current era of college sports, the transfer portal has become an integral element, allowing athletes to seek new opportunities outside their current institutions. However, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has maintained a steadfast commitment to his program's foundation, emphasizing the importance of building a strong team through traditional recruiting channels.

Last season, Clemson experienced a downturn in performance, finishing with a 9-4 record and failing to win at least 10 games for the first time since 2010. Despite this setback, Swinney has remained firm in his belief that building a sustainable program through high school recruits is the best long-term approach for Clemson.

"We just signed a whole class of guys transferring from high school, so we like our guys. We like our starters... We had 127 players go through spring, and 125 are still on our roster post-portal," Swinney stated.

The Tigers' 2023 incoming freshman class ranks 11th nationally and features two five-star recruits and 11 four-star players, bolstering the team's depth and potential for future success. Swinney's emphasis on high school recruits stems from his desire to maintain a cohesive team culture and develop players within Clemson's system from the ground up.

While other programs have found success by acquiring talented transfers, Swinney believes that building a team primarily through high school recruits fosters a stronger sense of loyalty and continuity. He recognizes that transfers can provide a quick boost to a team's performance, but he emphasizes the need for a long-term approach that focuses on developing players over multiple seasons.

"Well, it wasn't really necessarily like an intentional thing. There were a couple guys we looked at. They gotta love you, too," Swinney explained.

Despite Clemson's focus on high school recruits, Swinney acknowledged that the program did consider a few transfer candidates but ultimately decided against pursuing them. He emphasized the mutual nature of the transfer process, highlighting the importance of both the player and the program being fully invested in the partnership.

The Tigers will open their 2023 season against the reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs on August