Dabo Swinney has stood as a strong opponent of the transfer portal during its rise. At least, that’s been the case up until now.
However, this may be about to change. The Clemson head coach, who has never brought in a scholarship defensive player from the transfer portal, is set to host Purdue transfer edge rusher Will Heldt for a visit in the coming days, according to his agents at Grand Central Sports, who shared the news with ESPN on Thursday night.
Heldt, a sophomore, will have two years of eligibility left, whether he chooses to continue his career at Clemson or elsewhere.
Heldt was a standout defensive player for the struggling Purdue team in 2024, recording 56 total tackles, including 37 solo, along with 5 sacks and a fumble recovery. As a freshman last season, he totaled 12 tackles, 8 of them solo.
As Pete Thamel of ESPN pointed out on Thursday, Clemson has yet to sign a defensive player from the transfer portal, although a few offensive players have transferred in. However, those players didn’t make much of an impact.
Quarterbacks Hunter Johnson and Paul Tyson both served as backups, while wide receiver Blackmon Huckabee played in just three games for the Tigers.
This could signal a shift in Swinney’s approach to defense, after years of bypassing the portal for that side of the ball. Alternatively, Heldt might be seen as a potential game-changer for Clemson in 2025, with Swinney deciding he’s worth bringing in for a visit. Only time will tell which direction this move will take.
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