Dabo Swinney talks 'crazy' transfer portal, unintended consequences

CLEMSON — The transfer portal did not have much of an impact on the 2021 Clemson roster.

The Tigers flirted with adding a quarterback but ultimately opted to stand pat. And Clemson didn’t lose any starters from last season other than cornerback Derion Kendrick, who was dismissed from the program.

But around the country, the transfer portal is having a huge impact on college football. The one-time transfer rule has led to the floodgates opening up, and while it has worked out well for some, others are still searching for a home to continue their college careers after entering the portal.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney was asked for his thoughts on the transfer portal and one-time transfer rule during Clemson’s Media Day last week.

“It’s about what I thought it would be – crazy,” Swinney said. “I would’ve liked to have seen that different, you know. Because again, young people make emotional and irrational decisions. … Now you throw in, you’ve got Name, Image and Likeness. You’ve got tampering. You’ve got no reason for pause, no consequences.”

Swinney said that in his opinion, players should be allowed to transfer whenever you want, but they have to sit out a season. Then once the student-athlete graduates, get a year back.

Under that rule, if a player transferred after his sophomore year, he would have to sit out a season, but if he graduated, that season would not count towards his eligibility.

“I think it’s crazy. I mean there’s so many kids in the portal and not enough spots for them. I think the intention is good. And I agree with allowing everybody to be able to transfer. I just personally would’ve tied it to education. I would’ve tied it to, ‘OK, you can transfer anywhere you want anytime you want, but you sit a year. But guess what? When you get to your senior year or your graduation you get that year back.’ So you don’t lose anything,” Swinney said. “But it just creates a little bit of reason for pause… surely we can all agree we probably thought different at 22 than we did at 18. And process things differently as you mature a little bit.”

Jeff Scott was the co-offensive coordinator at Clemson before leaving to become the head coach at USF. (Photo by Tyler Smith / Getty Images)

Swinney added that coaches at non-Power 5 FBS schools in particular are in a tough spot.

If a Group of 5 coach recruits well and signs a really good high school player or develops a prospect into an elite player, he can transfer immediately to a Power 5 school without consequence.

It may make sense for those programs to spend more time in the portal, according to Swinney. That way if they add a transfer, the prospect would have to stay or transfer and sit out a year if he wanted to leave.

“If I’m Jeff Scott at South Florida, why are you going to sign a high school kid? Because if they’re good, somebody’s just going to take them right off your roster. And if you go sign a bunch of transfers that fit what you want, they’re there. Because now there are some consequences. And I don’t think that’s good,” Swinney said. “There will be some dynamics come about that’ll create some consequences not everybody foresaw. I’m not against anybody being able to transfer. I think that’s great. I just think with no reason for pause with NIL, with agents, with tampering, with you name it, no consequences, it kind of leads to no conscious, if you will.”