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Grading Dabo Swinney's Clemson football offseason moves from tampering to Chad Morris
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- Grading Dabo Swinney's Clemson football offseason moves from tampering to Chad Morris
CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney had a busy offseason.
He is entering his 18th season with ambitions to get the Tigers back to national prominence after Clemson went 7-6 in 2025. It was his worst season since 2010 as the Tigers missed the ACC championship game and College Football Playoff.
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This led to Swinney using the transfer portal more than ever and bringing in new assistants and support staffers . Clemson also added a large high-school recruiting class to pair with returning talent .
Clemson will begin spring practice on Feb. 25 and will have 15 sessions to get new coaches and players acclimated and figure out important position battles, including at quarterback .
Before the Tigers start practice, here's how we graded Clemson 's notable offseason decisions.
Clemson, Dabo Swinney hire OC Chad Morris again
Swinney rehired Chad Morris as the Tigers' offensive coordinator on Jan. 5. He replaced Garrett Riley, who was fired on Dec. 29 after three seasons . This will be Morris' third stint with Clemson after being the team's offensive coordinator from 2011-14 and returning to serve as an offensive analyst in 2023.
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Morris was integral to Clemson's early success under Swinney during his first stint, helping the offense average 40 points in two seasons and 30 in two others. However, he hasn't called plays in college since 2020 when he was Auburn's offensive coordinator after struggling as SMU and Arkansas ' coach.
Swinney wanted to bring in someone he was familiar with, but it remains to be seen if Morris can develop Clemson's quarterbacks and elevate the team's offense that averaged 27.2 points (72nd in FBS) in 2025 like he did in the early 2010s.
Grade:C+
Clemson football sets single-season program transfer portal record
Clemson added 10 transfers with eight coming on defense and two on offense. The Tigers revitalized their defense adding two safeties who can start immediately in Jerome Carter III (Old Dominion) and Corey Myrick ( Southern Miss ).
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MORE: One word Dabo Swinney, everyone else use to describe Clemson QB Christopher Vizzina
Clemson also brought in depth with four defensive linemen and two cornerbacks who can compete to be No. 2 opposite of Ashton Hampton. The Tigers added SMU running back Chris Johnson Jr., who will add elite speed and experience to an inexperienced unit.
Still, Clemson did not add an offensive lineman despite losing four starters. The Tigers also opted to not pursue a quarterback, trusting in their current ones who have combined for only one start.
Clemson also lost Cal linebacker Luke Ferrelli , who transferred to the Tigers but re-entered the portal to transfer to Ole Miss . It was a strong portal haul for Swinney but could have been better.
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Grade:B
Dabo Swinney calls out Ole Miss, Pete Golding for tampering
Swinney went scorched earth Jan. 23 when he called out Ole Miss and Rebels coach Pete Golding for tampering with Ferrelli. Swinney read a detailed timeline of Ferrelli committing and enrolling at Clemson, Ole Miss tampering with him, then Ferrelli electing to re-enter the portal to transfer to the Rebels.
MORE: Where Dabo Swinney made Clemson football roster better in portal and where he didn't
Swinney said Golding texted Ferrelli: "I know you're signed. What's the buyout?" with a picture of a $1 million contract during a class.
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Swinney said Clemson turned the evidence into the NCAA and is awaiting the organization's ruling . Swinney's bold move wasn't expected as most coaches don't say the specific school that is tampering because their own school could receive blowback for doing the same.
It didn't matter to Swinney as he wanted to protect his program and help curb future instances of tampering .
Grade:A
Clemson recruiting bounces back with 23-player class
Clemson signed 22 high school players and one junior college recruit in 2026. The Tigers' class is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the ACC, per the 247Sports Composite.
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It is a complete change from last year's cycle, which finished with 15 signees and ranked 26th nationally. It was Swinney's lowest-rated cycle since 2010. Clemson's 2026 ranking also ended the Tigers' downward trend in recruiting since 2020.
MORE: When do Dabo Swinney, Clemson football start spring practice? What's new, spring game date
The class is headlined by wide receiver Naeem Burroughs, who could become a starter this season. Clemson also signed top defensive signee safety Polo Anderson and juco defensive tackle Andy Burburija.
Grade:B+
Clemson retains most of starting production from 2025
Swinney often touts Clemson's retention as most players do not leave the Tigers to enter the portal, but three starters did depart.
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Safeties Khalil Barnes (Georgia) and Ricardo Jones (Vanderbilt) and defensive tackle Stephiylan Green ( LSU ) all left Clemson.
Still, Clemson did retain top stars like wide receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore , linebacker Sammy Brown and cornerback Ashton Hampton. The Tigers also kept edge rusher Will Heldt , who could have entered the NFL draft.
Clemson will return eight starters on offense and defense (four on offense, four on defense) in 2026.
Grade:A-
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney, Clemson football coach graded on tampering, Chad Morris
