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Where the 14 Clemson football players Dabo Swinney lost in portal transferred
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- Where the 14 Clemson football players Dabo Swinney lost in portal transferred
CLEMSON — Clemson football set a single-season program record for most transfers taken , but the Tigers lost their most players in a portal cycle too.
Fourteen Clemson players, including three starters, entered the portal before it closed on Jan. 16. Clemson, initially, lost 15 players, but defensive end Caden Story withdrew his name from the portal.
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The Tigers finished 7-6 in 2025, their second-worst season under coach Dabo Swinney .
Here's where each former Clemson player landed.
Clemson football transfer portal losses for 2026 roster
Stephiylan Green, DT
Green entered the transfer portal when it opened on Jan. 2. He became a starter in his third season with the Tigers, recording 18 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and one pass deflection in 10 games and six starts in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: LSU
Khalil Barnes , S
Barnes announced on Dec. 9 that he will enter the transfer portal . He spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 37 games and 30 starts to record 139 tackles, three forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections and seven interceptions. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
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Destination:Georgia
Ricardo Jones, S
Jones announced he is entering the portal on Jan. 3 . He became a starter in his second season, recording 39 tackles, a conference-high six interceptions and nine pass deflections in 13 games and 12 starts in 2025 to earn third-team All-ACC honors. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination:Vanderbilt
MORE: Where Dabo Swinney, Clemson stand as portal closes, and what about Luke Ferrelli or a QB?
MORE: Is Clemson football ranked in early top 25 polls for 2026 season?
Josh Sapp, TE
Sapp entered the portal on Jan. 2. He spent four seasons with Clemson, recording 24 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns in 41 games and two starts. He has one year of eligibility remaining after logging a career-high 11 catches for 150 yards in 2025.
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Destination: West Virginia
Shelton Lewis, CB
Lewis informed Clemson on Oct. 2 that he will use 2025 as a four-game redshirt season to enter transfer portal. He spent three seasons with the Tigers and appeared in four games in 2025 to record seven tackles and one pass deflection. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Arkansas
Markus Dixon, DE
Dixon spent three seasons with Clemson (two at tight end and one at defensive end), recording 34 offensive snaps in 2023 and 2024 and 13 defensive snaps in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Oregon
Jamal Anderson , LB
Anderson spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 31 games and two starts to record 16 tackles and one sack. He took a midseason redshirt in 2025, playing in four games. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
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Destination:SMU
Rowan Byrne, OL
Byrne played two snaps in one game as he redshirted in his freshman season. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: North Carolina
Dee Crayton, LB
Crayton played for Clemson for three seasons, participating in 30 games and starting in none to record 29 tackles. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination:UNLV
Rob Billings, S
Billings spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 32 games and no starts to record seven tackles. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Jacksonville State
Keith Adams Jr., RB
Adams was at Clemson for four seasons, playing in 32 games and zero starts to record 274 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 58 carries. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
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Destination:Georgia State
Marquise Henderson, ATH
Henderson announced June 21 on social media that he had entered the transfer portal. Two days before, Clemson announced Henderson has been dismissed from the team . Henderson never played a snap at Clemson after signing in December 2024. He earning All-Upstate honors as a running back at Belton-Honea Path in 2024.
Destination:Samford
Parker Fulghum, WR
Pulghum walked on at Clemson in 2024 but was a part of the team's 105-man roster. He played 32 offensive snaps in five games over two season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Louisiana-Monroe
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Michael Manaka, CB
Manaka walked on to Clemson in 2022 but was a part of the team's 105-man roster. He transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback in 2024. He has appeared in 11 games over four years, recording one tackle. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Destination:TBD
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 transfer portal losses, where 14 Clemson players signed
