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On quiet National Signing Day, Clemson football, Dabo Swinney focusing on 2026 recruiting class
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- On quiet National Signing Day, Clemson football, Dabo Swinney focusing on 2026 recruiting class
Don't expect Clemson football to add any signees to its 2025 recruiting class on Feb. 5, National Signing Day .
Dabo Swinney 's team hasn't signed a high school recruit in February since 2022, when it landed eight players. Clemson's 2025 recruiting class likely will finish with 15 signees, ranking 26th nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. It is Swinney's lowest-rated cycle since his second full season as Clemson 's coach in 2010 and his smallest class since 2017.
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Swinney anticipated his 2025 class to be small, though, because Clemson didn't have the flexibility to add many recruits this cycle. It retained every scholarship player who had eligibility remaining except five , and its roster can't exceed 85 scholarship players since roster and scholarship limits are going to 105 on July 1, thanks to the settlement of the House v. NCAA federal antitrust cases .
As a result, the Tigers are eyeing 2026, looking to fill the class that will have to fill a void left by the impending departures of quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receiver Antonio Williams and more starters.
Here's a list of needs Clemson must address for its 2026 recruiting class:
Clemson football 2026 recruiting class needs
Clemson's current class is small, but it could exceed 20 signees next season. Klubnik, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart , linebacker Wade Woodaz and offensive linemen Tristan Leigh, Blake Miller , Walker Parks and Ryan Linthicum will have no eligibility remaining barring a catastrophic injury.
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Then, Clemson could have standout third- or fourth-year players declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, like Williams, defensive tackle Peter Woods , cornerback Avieon Terrell , safety Khalil Barnes and defensive ends T.J. Parker and Will Heldt . These potential losses on top of players' eligibility ending will shrink Clemson's roster.
These exits will force the Tigers to pursue immediate contributors aggressively and depth players in the transfer portal or high school recruiting. It has commitments at quarterback, cornerback and tight end in the 2026 cycle already.
Another key position to fill is defensive end, where Swinney could lose five players (Parker, Heldt, Jahiem Lawson, Cade Denhoff and Zaire Patterson), which would leave only Darien Mayo and freshman Ari Watford in the group.
MORE: Clemson football schedule 2025: All dates set, including LSU, SMU, South Carolina games
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Another need is wide receiver. Clemson could lose Williams, Adam Randall , Tristan Smith, Cole Turner and Tyler Brown . Although unlikely, this scenario would leave just Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore , Misun Kelley, freshman Juju Preston and freshman Marquise Henderson in the group. Wesco and Moore are proven, but it would need to land a capable receiver to contribute immediately or provide adequate depth behind the unit.
Clemson football 2026 recruiting commits
The Tigers have five players committed for next year's class, which ranks 19th.
Clemson has two quarterbacks committed: four-star Tait Reynolds and three-star Brock Bradley . It landed commitments from four-star cornerback Shavar Young Jr. , three-star wide receiver/tight end Tayveon Wilson and three-star offensive lineman Braden Wilmes .
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Where Clemson football 2025 recruiting class ranks entering signing day
Clemson's 2025 recruiting class sits at No. 26. It is the fourth-highest in the ACC behind Miami (No. 13), Florida State (19) and Georgia Tech (21).
Clemson's class is the eighth-highest for teams that made the CFP in 2024. Texas , which beat Clemson in the first round, sits at No. 1, Georgia is second and national champion Ohio State is third. Oregon (No. 5), Tennessee (11), Notre Dame (12) and Penn State (15) all sit ahead of the Tigers.
Here every signee from Clemson's 2025 recruiting class:
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Chris Denson , QB
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Gideon Davidson , RB
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Marquise Henderson , ATH
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Juju Preston , WR
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Logan Brooking , TE
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Brayden Jacobs , OL
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Tucker Kattus , OL
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Rowan Byrne , OL
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Easton Ware , OL
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Gavin Blanchard , OL
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Amare Adams , DL
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Ari Watford , DL
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Makhi Williams-Lee , DL
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Logan Anderson , LB
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Jakarrion Kenan , DB
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Assessing Dabo Swinney's recruiting needs in 2026
