Alright, buckle up, folks, ‘cause Dabo Swinney’s got everyone talking again. And this time, it’s not just your usual coaching chatter. You know how Clemson’s been kind of off the radar lately? Like, not washed or anything, but definitely not the juggernaut it used to be. We’re talking a noticeable dip from that prime, untouchable Dabo era. The rapid evolution of college football and all that transfer portal madness had everyone wondering if Dabo could keep up. But here’s the thing: Dabo’s been making moves—subtle, but they’re there. And if you’ve been sleeping on him, now’s the time to wake up; Dabo Swinney spills the tea about Cade Klubnik’s future.
It’s not like Swinney’s gone full portal pirate, raiding the transfer market for every hotshot out there. Nah, he’s dipped his toes in, just enough to keep Clemson’s ship afloat. And the roster? They’re coming back like a sequel, everybody’s actually excited for. National analyst J.D. Pickell from On3 straight up said it on March 9th: “Clemson having the number one training production in all of college football next season. Y’all, Dabo is doing it right now, and it’s not something we thought we would say three years ago. And a lot of the pushback around Dabo Swinney—if you don’t think he’s the best coach in the sport, I mean, we’re not saying he’s the best coach in the sport, but if you don’t think that he is still one of the top coaches in the sport—a lot of that opinion is tied to his failure to adapt to the transfer portal. And they’ve dipped their toe in it. They’re not wholesale jumping into the portal all the way, but they’ve dipped their toe in it.”
While opinions shift, it’s hard to deny Dabo Swinney’s continued place among the top coaches. The biggest beef critics have with Swinney is his lack of commitment to the transfer portal, but his approach might be smarter than everyone thought. Instead of tossing players aside for shiny new recruits, Swinney’s staying loyal to his roster, and the roster’s paying it back tenfold. “Like, if you’re loyal to your roster, your roster is able to be loyal back to you,” Pickell added.
The Tigers have been sneaky good at grabbing key transfers where they need them. Will Heldt from Purdue is locking down the defensive line, Alabama’s Jeremiah Alexander is beefing up the linebacker corps, and Southeast Missouri State’s Tristan Smith is coming in hot for the receiving game. Smith’s stats last season? 76 receptions, 934 yards, and six touchdowns. And with one year of eligibility left, he’s looking to make noise. Funny enough, despite all the action, Clemson’s transfer class didn’t even crack the top 100 in the 247Sports transfer rankings. But hey, it’s the most transfers they’ve brought in for a single cycle, so Dabo Swinney’s clearly trying to evolve.
That’s not all. Clemson’s made some coaching moves that have folks raising eyebrows. Tom Allen’s now the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, bringing some much-needed experience. Garrett Riley is heading into year three as offensive coordinator, and Mickey Conn is entering his fourth season as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Swinney is basically retooling his staff while the world’s screaming for him to embrace the transfer portal like it’s the Holy Grail.
But here’s the kicker: Clemson’s been holding onto their core players like their life depends on it. Guys like T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, Wade Woodaz, Antonio Williams, and Tristan Leigh are all sticking around. And a lot of that loyalty credit goes to the 110 Society, Clemson’s NIL collective that’s been working overtime to lock in those deals and keep the talent happy. Clemson’s culture of loyalty over flashy transfers might be just what keeps them dangerous.
Dabo Swinney offers insight into Cade Klubnik’s future
Dabo Swinney ain’t new to the roster-juggling game. As the Tigers dive into spring practice, the head coach made one thing crystal clear: everyone’s got a role, whether they’re slinging touchdowns or cheering from the sidelines. “We need as many as we can get,” Swinney emphasized, all about keeping the squad thick until game week rolls around. “That’s a positive because we thought originally we were going to have to be at 105 by July 1, but we don’t have to do that.”
But all eyes and ears are low-key glued on Cade Klubnik. The man has stepped up from a wide-eyed starter to a battle-tested QB1. And Swinney’s making sure everyone knows the kid’s progression ain’t some overnight fluke. “He wasn’t a big question to me,” Swinney said. “He was just a guy in progress, just a guy in the process of becoming a great player.” The man’s got that swagger now, the kind that only comes from taking hits and dropping dimes under pressure.
Dabo Swinney’s hyped about the offense’s growth, especially with Klubnik’s chemistry with his receivers clicking better than Wi-Fi on a good day. “You saw that last year—the game really slowed down for him. He’s an unbelievable leader. Very confident. And that only comes from being battle-tested.”
While Klubnik’s cooking up his final season, Clemson’s already prepping the next man up. Enter Christopher Vizzina, the hot-shot QB prospect getting force-fed first-team reps this spring. Swinney’s got his eye on him, making sure the kid’s ready when his number’s called. “We told him we weren’t going to sign a quarterback in 2024. He was going to be the 2023-24 guy,” Swinney explained. “He didn’t get many reps last year. But by the second half of the season, we saw a jump in him.”
The 2025 season’s shaping up to be a wild ride. And if Swinney’s approach pays off, folks might have to start putting more respect on his name. Because for all the transfer portal critics throwing shade, Swinney’s playing the long game—and he just might win.
The post Dabo Swinney’s CFP Fate Takes a Turn After Clemson HC Addresses Cade Klubnik’s Future appeared first on EssentiallySports.
