Clemson Finally Using Full Scholarship Allotment

Jan 9, 2023 - 3:39 PM

For years, loyal readers of this site have heard Quacking Tiger, myself, and other writers bemoan Clemson’s underutilization of the 85 scholarship limit. Clemson has often been overly stingy with offers and taken smaller recruiting classes than needed to ensure they wouldn’t go over the 85 scholarship. Time and time again, they’d then have several players transfer out right after signing day or in the spring. That routinely left Clemson with unused scholarships which they would give to walk-ons.

We’ve begged and pleaded for this practice to change. We’ve been told to give up and stop beating a dead horse! It now appears things are changing.

Although we’re disappointed with Clemson’s 3-3 finish to this season and worried about some of the hesitance they’re showing around NIL and the transfer portal, it is only right that we pause and celebrate a notable change to roster management. Clemson brought in a big recruiting class (27 including QB Paul Tyson). As you can see in Morgan Thomas’s breakdown below, Clemson is at 85 scholarships.

In his spreadsheet, he counts scholarships for former walk-ons Philip Florenzo (long snapper) and Dominque Thomas (running back) as well as the now-transferred Etinosa Reuben (defensive tackle). Since former walk-ons are not guaranteed scholarship renewal and Reuben is no longer on the team, that drops Clemson to 82, but missing from his chart are Xavier Thomas, Tyler Davis, and Ruke Orhorhoro who have all decided to return. That puts Clemson back at 85 allotted scholarships with none going to former walk-ons or “five-heart” recruits.

WR Joe Ngata is also not counted and would push the count to 86 if he uses his COVID waiver and returns to Clemson. Ngata recently accepted an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl which may mean he is on the way out, but we also saw Ruke Orhorhoro accept a Senior Bowl invite before deciding to back-out and return to Clemson instead.

Regardless of what Ngata decides, we’re seeing Coach Swinney be much more aggressive with his scholarships and planning for attrition. It appears Clemson’s staff is accepting the new state of college football where attrition is unavoidable.

We’d still love to see Clemson use NIL more aggressively to land immediate impact players like Florida State did this offseason by adding OL Jeremiah Byers from UTEP, TE Jaheim Bell from South Carolina, CB Fentrell Cypress II from Virginia, and Braden Fiske Western Michigan. Nevertheless, bringing in extra high school recruits to plan for attrition and build more depth is a big improvement in roster management and deserves out applause. Kudos Clemson.