Clemson football will be seriously shorthanded when it takes on Penn State in the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl on December 27.
Per head coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers will be without 26 scholarship players when they take on the Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium. Between opt outs, transfers, and injuries it has put a strain on Clemson’s roster.
Chief among the opt outs are four multi-year starters who have declared for the NFL draft; those being T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, Demonte Capehart, and Avieon Terrell.
Clemson football also has its share of injuries which will keep players out of the Tigers’ postseason tilt. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco was already on the shelf following a scary upper body injury suffered against SMU. Add Antonio Williams to that list, as the senior from Irmo, SC who declared for the NFL draft as well, suffered a shoulder injury against South Carolina in the regular season finale.
Linebacker Wade Woodaz is also unavailable due to surgery.
Aside from injuries and personal decisions not to play in the bowl game, Clemson football has also been hit by departures via the transfer portal. The biggest name to leave the program is safety Khalil Barners who has been a mainstay of the Tigers’ secondary the past several season. Reserve linebacker Jamal Anderson has also entered his name in the portal along with running back Keith Adams Jr.
Still, the news is not all bad for Clemson football. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has announced he will play in the Pinstripe Bowl, and news broke on Monday that transfer defensive end Will Heldt will be returning to the Tigers in 2026 following agreement on a new NIL deal. Those two will provide stability on both sides of the ball against a Penn State team that is suffering its own large share of attrition.
During his media availability, Swinney has spoken freely of his excitement for the game and sees it as a good opportunity for the Tigers to finish the year on a high note after a late-season turnaround.
Clemson enters the bowl game as winners of their last four games and riding momentum following a strong finish to the regular season. It would seem that Clemson football and Dabo Swinney will be heavily involved in recruiting from the transfer portal this offseason, and a win over the Nittany Lions could provide momentum on that front as the Tigers try to appeal to impact players looking for a new home.
Clemson and Penn State are slated for a 12-noon kickoff on December 27 at New York’s Yankee Stadium.
