Clemson football is cooking in the transfer portal.
Following years of downplaying its importance, head coach Dabo Swinney has reeled in four commits, including three in the last 24 hours, from the portal.
The boom in transfer portal recruiting started with a pledge from former Penn State defensive back Elliot Washington, who Tigers’ defensive coordinator Tom Allen coached in Happy Valley. Washington has one year of eligibility remaining, but his pledge was just the tip of the iceberg for Clemson football.
On Tuesday, three more highly sought after transfer targets committed to the Tigers.
Cal linebacker Luke Ferrelli, the ACC defensive rookie of the year, committed to Clemson marking the second transfer to come on board. A San Diego native, Ferrelli totaled 87 tackles and 36 solo tackles during the 2025 season. He ranked eighth overall in the ACC for total tackles and notched five tackles for loss. Ferrelli projects as an immediate impact player and joins Sammy Brown to form a fearsome linebacking duo for Clemson football.
Next, Allen reeled in another defensive back in Jerome Carter, who is joining the Tigers from Old Dominion. Carter committed during a two-day visit to Clemson’s campus. Carter totaled 76 tackles and tied former Clemson safety Ricardo Jones for second nationally with six interceptions. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Jerome Carter III INT🏈⛔️👑 ( Old Dominion) #interception #ReignOn #sunbelt #collegefootball
The final transfer to commit to Clemson football on Tuesday was yet another cornerback in Donovan Starr who comes to Clemson via Auburn. Starr visited Clemson during his high school recruiting process before the Tennessee Mr. Football winner ultimately committed to the Tigers from Alabama. He appeared in nine games for Auburn, playing both special teams and defense.
In what has already been a busy offseason for Coach Swinney and Clemson football, things appear to be heating up even more with further prospective transfer portal targets set to visit the Clemson campus in the coming days.
Stay tuned.
