Dabo Swinney considers whether Clemson will address defensive end in transfer portal

Clemson sent out some offers to players in the transfer portal in recent weeks, but the Tigers won’t be pursuing a defensive end at this point.

Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney revealed earlier this week that Clemson isn’t looking to add a defensive end from the portal.

“I don’t see a portal situation,” Dabo Swinney said during his Signing Day press conference. “That was a position that we looked at. We kind of evaluate every position on our roster from a portal standpoint as a staff. And that was a position that, with the guys that we have in house and what we’ve been able to see from those guys, it wasn’t a position that we wanted a portal guy.”

Clemson has some versatility on its defensive front, which factored into Swinney’s decision to not pursue a defensive end.

Former five-star recruit Peter Woods in particular is a player who can play all over the defensive line.

“We’ve got a guy like Peter Woods that can play anywhere. So, you know, is there a guy out there that we think would come in and be better than that? We didn’t feel that,” Swinney said. “So we focused on the high school kid. So we’ll see if anything transpires there, but not looking for a portal guy there right now.”

While Clemson is not planning to use the portal for a defensive end right now, that could change.

Swinney pointed out that it’s only December and the 2024 season won’t start for eight more months.

Clemson players on the defensive front could enter the portal and make it so that the Tigers have to use the portal for an EDGE rusher.

“Now again, this is December the 20^th. So there’s another portal window, the first week of January. And then there’s another portal window in the spring. So we’ve got a long way to go until the season,” Swinney said. “We haven’t had guys leave in the spring. … So if you get a group of guys that aren’t with you in the spring, then there’s no high school kids to get in May, so you have to sign whatever you can get in the portal.

“So that’s just where we are today. If something changes then you have to respond to that. But you have to base it on where you are. I’m committed to the kids on this roster. We really believe in our roster.”