Dabo Swinney defends approach to transfer portal: ‘If we have to use it, we’ll use it’

In the era of player movement via the transfer portal, Dabo Swinney and Clemson opted to focus on continuity. The Tigers rarely used the portal the last few offseasons, though they brought in three transfers this cycle.

During an appearance on CBS Sports Network, Swinney defended Clemson’s approach to the portal. He pointed out the program’s graduation and retention rates in the new era of college football.

Fresh off an ACC title in 2024, Clemson leads the nation with more than 80% returning production this year, according to ESPN. The Tigers lost eight players to the portal, and Swinney said he’s not opposed to diving into the transfer market when necessary. His preference is simply to focus on development from the high school level.

“There’s a lot of narratives and stuff, but we just focus on what’s best for Clemson,” Swinney said. “We’re a purpose-driven program and for 16 years – this is my 17th year as the head coach here – I lead with conviction. I believe what I believe, and I don’t apologize for that. And I don’t judge other people. The game has changed and things, but as things have evolved here at Clemson, in the last three years – in the craziest time in the history, in my opinion, of college football – we lead the nation in graduation and retention. That’s because of how we put it together on the front end. And we also offer the fewest guys in the country. We’re always dead last in offers.

“Our process is different. We have a process of alignment, as far as how we put it together. We recruit kids that align with our purpose and what we’re about. I’m not against the portal at all. If we have to use it, we’ll use it. I just prefer to be able to get the best high school kids and develop those guys.”

Dabo Swinney: ‘It’s ’til graduation do we part’

By taking down SMU in the ACC Championship a year ago, Clemson was able to make the new-look College Football Playoff. But Dabo Swinney went a step further as he looked at the Tigers’ record through the first five years of the decade.

Since 2020, Clemson is 50-16 overall and has two ACC titles. From 2010-14, the Tigers had a 48-18 record before eventually finishing the decade 117-23.

Swinney said that shows the track record of success and how the program is in stronger standing to start this decade than at the beginning of the 2010s. While the transfer portal is an option, he plans to keep emphasizing two main values: education and development.

“I know everybody wants me to change and do things the way they want [me] to do them,” Swinney said. “But if we’re not going to be successful, it’s not going to be because we tried to do it what everybody else wants us to do. We believe what we believe here, and again, we’re aligned with that. And if we use the portal, the process is the same.

“We’ve signed five portal kids in five years. But when we recruit guys, it’s ’til graduation do we part. That’s our philosophy. So we try to find kids that value education. I think that we’ve lost our way in college football where we don’t even talk about the value of an education anymore. But we do.”