Five years ago, the Clemson Tigers won their second national title in three seasons and had a promising blue-chip quarterback entering his sophomore year with the program. While Clemson still made the College Football Playoff in both 2019 and 2020 with Trevor Lawrence under center, the last three years have been regrettable for this struggling ACC power. They are 4-3 through seven games...
Obviously, a lot has contributed to Clemson's downfall in the national pantheon. In-state, South Carolina has had its moments under newish head coach Shane Beamer. In-conference, Florida State has finally returned to national prominence under its head coach Mike Norvell. And nationally, historic regional rival Georgia has emerged as the biggest and baddest bully across the entire Power Five.
Overall, Clemson has seemingly regressed to the mean of what the Tigers kind of always had been. Outside of the Danny Ford era and the peak Dabo Swinney years, Clemson has pretty much been an 8-4 program, just like it was for the better part of Tommy Bowden's tenure. Simply put, the incredibly stubborn Swinney will have to adapt or he will face the harsh reality of his coaching career demise.
Star coordinators and quarterbacks aside, here are three things Clemson can do to get back on top.
3. Clemson should invest in nationwide WR recruitment
Given that Swinney is a former walk-on wide receiver at Alabama, he takes a lot of pride in his player development program at his position group of note. He never has been, and never will be, an X's and O's type of coach. However, he has shown to be a very good CEO-type. Thus, he can conceivably win more national titles at places like Clemson if he can surround himself with the right staff and players.
While the chances of Swinney landing another blue-chipper out of Georgia's backyard like he did with Lawrence and Deshaun Watson are slim, he and his recruiting staff can look to acquire the best receiving talent the high school level can hope to offer. Just ask yourself this. Where are the DeAndre Hopkinses, the Sammy Watkinses and the Tee Higginses? It is a lot of Hunter Renfrows out there...
To me, I think landing these type of receiving talents can help bridge the gap Florida State is trying to maintain under Norvell. As long as Clemson stays in the ACC, this could be a relatively easy fix for the Tigers. Recruiting more and more blue-chippers at wide receiver can help make the Clemson offense more explosive outside the numbers, helping them compete for national championships once again.
Of course, blue-chippers are going to have to want to come play for Swinney over in Clemson first.
2. Clemson should allow commits to visit other schools
While adjusting a recruiting strategy more national in scope at wide receiver could help get the offense back on track, there is one other big thing the Tigers can do under Swinney to get with the times. Clemson is one of the few schools where offers are only committable. This means if you accept Clemson's scholarship offer, you recruitment shuts down completely and you are locked in.
Yes, you can still decommit and reopen your recruitment entirely, but this antiquated practice comes across as cultish and has allowed other big programs to lap them. Let me explain... In theory, you would think allowing commits to visit other schools is a horrible thing. Oh, no, no, no, no, no! What this does is it allows your best recruits to recruit other top guys to your programs way more effectively.
Not only does this afford greater recruiting class networking opportunities, but it also helps reaffirm your commitment to your program. It is not cheating if everyone but you is doing it. Yes, you may lose a few players to other programs this way, but you can't make an omelet without cracking a few eggs first. By cutting everyone off after committing, you leave yourself isolated and totally exposed.
Clemson could make these changes as soon as right now, but this old-time tradition needs to die.
1. Clemson should actively participate transfer portal, embrace NIL
Without question, this is the biggest bugaboo plaguing Swinney and the entire Clemson program. It is right up there with Notre Dame not joining a conference in football. Swinney seems to give off the impression that he actively hates NIL, as he prefers things to be in God's name, image and likeness. This led to friction between the Tigers program and their former starting quarterback, D.J. Uiagalelei.
Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State and has quarterbacked one of the better Pac-12 teams this season. They are a top-15 team, while Clemson is already saddled with three losses. And for as much as Clemson's reluctance to do much with NIL has come back to haunt them, nothing has killed their former dynasty faster than a complete and utter disregard for using the transfer portal. Great job...
NIL is one thing in terms of leveling the playing field, but not using the portal to your advantage is so beyond foolish. Clemson almost never takes players out of the portal. Either you commit to Clemson out of high school or you will never get to run down the hill and touch Howard's Rock. It is like not participating in NFL free agency. It has hurt the Green Bay Packers, and this is totally ruining Clemson.
If Swinney refuses to come around on the ideas of NIL and the transfer portal, he will get passed by.
