Former Clemson LB headed to PAC 12 school

Former Clemson linebacker Sergio Allen is headed to the west coach.

Allen has committed to Cal, he announced on social media on Wednesday.

Allen spent three years at Clemson, before entering the transfer portal earlier this month. He left the Tigers team two games into this season but could not officially enter the portal until December.

“Forever thankful for the Clemson coaches, staff and fans,” Allen said when announcing that he was entering the portal. “Thank you for all the support and prayers. The journey is just getting started, I promise.”

A Georgia native, Allen was a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. He originally committed to Clemson out of high school, choosing the Tigers over offers from Georgia, Alabama, LSU and others.

Allen played five defensive snaps over the first two games of the season, before leaving the team.

“I mean there’s not really much reaction,” Swinney said earlier this season when asked about Allen. “2022. Great kid, love him. Wish him well.”

Allen immediately contributed for the Tigers as a freshman in 2020, making three tackles while playing limited snaps over five games.

He played 13 defensive snaps over nine games as a sophomore in 2021, finishing with six tackles.

Allen is one of several Clemson players to find a new home in 2022.

Running back Kobe Pace committed to Virginia earlier this week. Linebacker LaVonta Bentley ended up at Colorado. Defensive back Fred Davis has committed to UCF.

Transfer portal background information

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and that request cannot be refused.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship no longer has to be honored. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school is not obligated to provide a scholarship anymore.