Dabo Swinney isn’t just about football — he’s about making sure talent doesn’t slip through the cracks. At a recent “Clemson Road Show,” Swinney and basketball coach Brad Brownell shared the story of Ian Schieffelin, who made the leap from Clemson basketball to football. Here, Swinney didn’t hold back in his pitch. “If you go over there, they’re going to forget about you forever,” Swinney told Schieffelin. Adding, “If you want to play football, you’ll be a national story.” While Schieffelin could’ve pursued pro basketball, Swinney convinced him to pause the dream. Now, the TE is ready to make his mark on the football field. Could Swinney’s unconventional pitch be the key to landing big talents like Schieffelin?
Maybe Swinney’s unconventional pitch is the secret sauce to landing top-tier talent. However, this season, it’s paying off. The Tigers are roaring back into the national spotlight. Fresh off an ACC title and a return to the CFP, Clemson is making waves in the preseason rankings. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, after spring ball and the transfer portal shuffle, Clemson now sits at No. 2 in the nation — just behind PSU. So, under Dabo’s leadership, the Tigers are on the rise, and the improvements are undeniable. Honestly, Clemson’s momentum is real, and it’s only getting stronger.
Now, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Football is making major waves, and it’s all about the future. On May 12, CFB-Clemson dropped a bombshell on Instagram: NFL analyst Todd McShay has 6 Tigers going in the first round of his way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft. That’s some serious talent. With the most returning production in the country for 2025, Clemson is stacking up to be a powerhouse. This projection speaks volumes about the Tigers’ rise — and their future dominance on the NFL stage. Simply put, Swinney’s squad is primed and ready for the next level.
Now, Clemson is absolutely stacked, and the NFL is taking notice. In Todd McShay’s draft projection, DL Peter Woods is slotted at No. 3 to the Giants, QB Cade Klubnik at No. 5 to the Browns, OT Blake Miller at No. 8 to the Colts, EDGE T.J. Parker at No. 9 also to the Browns, CB Avieon Terrell at No. 27 to the Titans, and WR Antonio Williams at No. 28 to the Chiefs. Honestly, this kind of draft buzz proves one thing—Clemson’s got firepower on both sides of the ball, and Dabo’s crew is back in national title contention.
Look, “There’s no reason Clemson shouldn’t be in the thick of the national title race,” wrote ESPN’s Mark Schlabach — and the proof is all over the roster. Leading the charge is Cade Klubnik, now a veteran QB fresh off a 43-TD season. He’ll be protected by a seasoned O-line and throw to a loaded WR room headlined by Antonio Williams. Although the backfield is a question mark, but talent isn’t. With Phil Mafah in the NFL and Jay Haynes rehabbing, Clemson could turn to Adam Randall or elite freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson — ESPN’s No. 3 RB in the 2025 class. However, on defense, Dabo made a splash hire in Tom Allen, the former Indiana HC. Now, he’s on a mission to fix a struggling run defense that ranked 2nd-worst in the ACC last year.
Simply put, the Tigers are eyeing a big leap — and the pieces are in place. Following this kind of improvement, praise comes naturally. Now, Dabo Swinney is earning high praise from an ESPN personality.
Glowing recognition for Dabo Swinney
What a turnaround it’s been for Dabo Swinney and Clemson. Just months ago, the talk was that the dynasty might be done. Now? The Tigers are roaring back. After punching their ticket to the 2024 CFP, Clemson fell short in a tough opener against Texas. A stinging loss, no doubt. But it didn’t shake the program. With a young, loaded roster, the Tigers knew their time was far from over.
Look, Clemson brings back more production than any other Power Four team — and that’s making noise. After some shaky seasons and heavy heat over his transfer portal stance, Dabo Swinney has flipped the narrative. He once claimed his guys were better than the portal. For a while, that didn’t quite hold. Programs like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU were stockpiling talent through transfers. But this offseason, Dabo dipped in just enough — grabbing 3 key additions who are already turning heads. The Tigers look reloaded, not rebuilt. Now, experts are lining up to praise Swinney’s blueprint.
“I will give Dabo Swinney more credit than anyone in the country,” said ESPN’s Matt Barrie — and that’s a headline few expected to hear in 2025. For years, Swinney caught heat for avoiding the transfer portal and resisting the pull of the NIL era. But now? He’s being celebrated as the coach who stayed true to his values and still delivered results. Is he adapting? Slowly, yes. But on his terms. And it’s working. So, Swinney didn’t fold — he evolved, just enough. And that quiet confidence is earning national respect.
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