CLEMSON — Clemson football defensive coordinator Tom Allen said the arrival of the Tigers’ eight defensive transfers have made things uncomfortable for returners.
“It kind of wakes up the guys in that locker room,” Allen said March 2 after Clemson‘s fourth day of spring practice. “Sometimes you think ‘I’m gonna be the next guy because of time.’ You know what? That just changed.”
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Coach Dabo Swinney welcomed 10 transfers in 2026, his largest single-season portal class ever, after the Tigers went 7-6 in 2025, the second-worst season in his full 17 seasons.
On defense, those additions include edge rushers London Merritt (Colorado) and CJ Wesley (Howard), defensive tackles Kourtney Kelly (West Georgia) and Markus Strong (Oklahoma), cornerbacks Donovan Starr (Auburn) and Elliot Washington II (Penn State) and safeties Corey Myrick (Southern Miss) and Jerome Carter III (Old Dominion).
Allen said each transfer has brought competition and experience to the Tigers and “urgency” to players. He sees this as a boon for Clemson as better depth will be created, which he felt the Tigers lacked in 2025.
“I couldn’t even tell you who our starters are going to be for the most part,” Allen said. “We got a lot of guys that are going to have to be fighting, clawing, scratching, and I want that to continue all through spring, all summer and all fall camp.”
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Allen said Myrick and Carter were Clemson’s top two safety targets, and both are among the team’s top three safeties with Ronan Hanafin through the first four spring practices. Allen said the staff loved both transfers’ length, productivity and competitiveness.
At cornerback, Washington and Starr are among competitors vying to be No. 2 opposite of Ashton Hampton. Washington played under Allen at Penn State in 2024, which the defensive coordinator said has been a positive since he knows the system already.
MORE: Why Chad Morris was confident he could be Clemson, Dabo Swinney’s OC again
At defensive end, Merritt and Wesley were brought in to provide depth behind Will Heldt and Jahiem Lawson. Strong and Kelly will do the same at defensive tackle with Amare Adams, Vic Burley and junior-college addition Andy Burburija.
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How Luke Ferrelli’s departure impacted Clemson football’s linebackes
Clemson lost Luke Ferrelli, a Cal linebacker who is the ACC’s defensive rookie of the year, to Ole Miss. He transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7, then reentered the portal on Jan. 16 to transfer to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. This led to Swinney calling out the Rebels and coach Pete Golding for tampering.
An issue Swinney and his staff had with Ferrelli leaving was the Tigers canceled other visits with other potential portal linebackers when he initially transferred to Clemson.
Clemson retained star linebacker Sammy Brown but has to develop depth behind him with Ferrelli leaving, and Allen recognizes that.
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“I feel way better after four days because I feel like there’s a bunch of hungry guys in there who have something to prove and have to take the next big step,” Allen said.
Those players include Jeremiah Alexander, Kobe McCloud, C.J. Kubah-Taylor, Drew Woodaz, Logan Anderson and freshman Brayden Reilly.
All have combined for four starts with Alexander having three and McCloud starting once, but Allen is confident in where the position’s depth is heading.
“We’ve made progress in that room, and I think that room can be one of our strengths when it’s all said and done,” Allen said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tom Allen reveals how transfers are already having impact for Clemson
