Dabo Swinney, the head coach of Clemson, is widely regarded as one of the top coaches in college football today. However, even the best coaches can have areas for improvement, and for Swinney, one such area is adapting to the transfer portal, which has significantly transformed the landscape of college football in recent years.

The transfer portal has allowed players to move between schools more freely, creating a new dynamic in recruiting and roster management. While Swinney has led Clemson to great success, including two national championships, his reluctance to embrace the transfer portal has been noted by some observers.

Swinney has traditionally preferred to build his teams through high school recruiting and player development, rather than relying heavily on transfers. This approach has worked well for him in the past, but as the transfer portal has become more prevalent, it may be time for Swinney to consider adjusting his strategy to stay competitive with other top programs that are actively utilizing the portal.

By adapting to the transfer portal and being more open to bringing in talented players from other schools, Swinney could potentially strengthen Clemson’s roster and continue to compete at the highest level in college football. While his coaching abilities are undoubtedly among the best in the game, embracing the transfer portal could be a valuable tool in Swinney’s arsenal as he looks to maintain Clemson’s status as an elite program.

Dabo Swinney has not recruited any players from the transfer portal this season.

Clemson has not acquired any players from this year’s transfer portal, while most top college football teams are actively using it to enhance their rosters. Surprisingly, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers have chosen to steer clear of the portal, and recent reports shed light on their reasoning.

Transfer portal acquisitions do not meet Clemson’s standards.

Dabo Swinney recently appeared on College Sports on SiriusXM and explained Clemson’s stance on the transfer portal. He stated, “Most of the guys in the portal aren’t good enough to play for us. That’s just the reality of it.”

Swinney’s comments suggest that the Tigers’ coaching staff does not believe the majority of transfer portal players possess the talent and skill level required to compete at Clemson’s high standard. The head coach seems to have confidence in the program’s ability to recruit and develop players who can contribute at an elite level.

While many top programs have embraced the transfer portal as a means to quickly improve their rosters, Swinney and the Tigers have maintained their focus on in-house development and high school recruiting. This approach has yielded success in the past, with Clemson winning two national championships under Swinney’s leadership.

However, as the transfer portal continues to reshape college football, Swinney may need to reevaluate his stance to ensure Clemson remains competitive with other powerhouse programs actively utilizing the portal to bolster their teams.