Dabo Swinney explains why Clemson doesn't use transfer portal to build roster

The transfer portal is becoming increasingly popular in college football. The NCAA’s one-time waiver for transfers has more players on the move than ever before.

Clemson would figure to be a popular transfer destination for many players. The Tigers have made 6 College Football Playoff appearances, second only to Alabama (7). Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however, remains highly critical of the portal. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Chris Low, Swinney explained that he prefers to focus on high school recruiting and won’t go out pluck just any good player from the portal.

“My transfer portal is right there in that locker room, because if I’m constantly going out every year and adding guys from the transfer portal, I’m telling all those guys in that locker room that I don’t believe in them, that I don’t think they can play,” Swinney told ESPN. “We’re also not doing our job as coaches and recruiters if we’re bringing in a bunch of transfers. We’re not going to build our roster on transfers.”

That’s not to say Clemson won’t take the occasional transfer. Swinney explained that his team is currently in need of an offensive lineman. But he prefers to use it for depth instead of stockpiling talent.

“Again, if we’re having to use it to help build our roster, that means we’ve missed on kids and we’re no longer signing the best of the best out there. I don’t see that coming. We’ll have to use it, but only to fill a gap. There’s nobody on the planet that won’t have to use it. Just like this year, we’re down one in the offensive line and we need to find a guy, so we’re actively looking for an offensive lineman between now and May to get him in here for summer school. But we’re not just going to take a guy to take a guy because we think he’s a good player.”