Tristan Smith had quite a Monday.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound receiver from Southeast Missouri State arrived in Clemson at 2 a.m., just six hours before his scheduled recruiting visit on Dec. 16. His journey included flights from El Paso to Dallas, then Dallas to Atlanta, followed by a drive to Clemson.
After arriving, Smith watched the Tigers practice for their first-round playoff game against Texas. There, he saw his future quarterback, Cade Klubnik, sprinting from sideline to sideline and touching the wall after every run.
Before long, Smith found himself in Dabo Swinney’s office, where the head coach made a pitch that didn’t require much convincing. Smith, a late-bloomer who stood just under 6 feet entering his 11th-grade year at LaGrange (Ga.) High, had grown a lot in his senior year but had to take the junior college route when his grades lagged behind. Despite the obstacles, Smith was now in front of Swinney.
As he recalled his experience later that evening, Smith reflected on how much Swinney seemed to care about his story. “I started crying a little bit because not too many people where I’m from get this far,” Smith admitted. “I told him this is what I wanted to do. This is the place I want to be. There’s no other questions. I’m not going on any other visits. I want to come to Clemson.”
With that, Smith made a splash at Clemson, a program that has been cautious with the transfer portal. They’d only added quarterbacks Hunter Johnson and Paul Tyson as backups before 2023, and didn’t add any transfers ahead of this season.
Smith, who had 76 catches for 934 yards and six touchdowns at SEMO as a junior, knew his commitment to Clemson would turn heads but wasn’t concerned. “People have their opinions. Some are good, some are bad,” he said. “But either way, I’m going to strive to be the best player I can be, and I’ll get past all the negativity and positivity that comes with it.”
Smith had long been underestimated. It wasn’t until he got to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he practiced against former Division I players, that he realized he could play at a higher level. Though not highly productive at Hutchinson with just 16 catches for 231 yards over two seasons, Smith earned a spot at SEMO, where he became a key player for a 4,000-yard passer.
When the transfer portal opened on Dec. 9, Smith decided to bet on himself. A few days later, Clemson’s receivers coach Tyler Grisham reached out. Then came the FaceTime call that left Smith in awe—it was Dabo Swinney.
“I picked up the phone and it was Coach Swinney. He was just smiling, and we had a great conversation,” Smith said. While other Power 4 schools like Arkansas and Michigan State showed interest, it was his conversation with Swinney that sealed the deal.
Raised in a tough neighborhood by a single mother and one of eight children, Smith knew Swinney connected with his background. “When I got to talking to him in person, it felt like I’d known him forever,” Smith recalled.
At Clemson, Smith saw the team’s wide receivers working hard, including Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and T.J. Moore. Smith was eager to add leadership and experience to the group. “Those are some young guys, and they’re doing it. They’re making plays,” Smith said. “I get to learn from these guys as well.”
With receivers Troy Stellato and Noble Johnson transferring, Smith sees an opportunity to compete for playing time in 2025, especially with most of Clemson’s offense returning. It’s been an emotional journey for Smith, who not only teared up when committing to Swinney but also saw his brother and grandfather overcome with emotion during the visit.
“They care so much about me,” Smith said. “I just want to show people why they brought me here.”
Clemson’s latest transfer is ready to give it his all. “The Clemson Family is going to get the best out of me. It’s only up from here,” Smith said. “There’s not going to be a day where you don’t get 110 percent from me.”
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