Clemson Recruiting - been said here

[DaddyChad]

You are probably correct if Dabo doesn't adapt. Looking at 4 straight recruiting classes outside the top 10. Good coaching only goes so far. You can put together a couple good seasons if you have the right players, like UF under Mullen, but you will likely have to go through rebuilding years too when those guys leave, where you go 7-5, 8-4, while you develop the next crop.

The problem is a lot of coaches aren’t Saban. They’re just not going to continue to grind as hard as they did and evolve with the current times. Dabo has a dang castle with a home golf course now. I know he has a desire to win but do you keep that desire that drive for 365 days a year or do you let the distractions of money and fame take away that edge.

 

[Volfan1000]

Interesting article in the Greenville News about Dabo’s recruiting woes. It’s a pay site so I added a tinge of context.

Clemson football's 2025 recruiting class has continued a disturbing trend for Dabo Swinney

Clemson football's 2025 recruiting class ranks 11th, per the 247Sports Composite. The Tigers missed out on key recruits over the past six weeks.

www.greenvilleonline.com

CLEMSON — It's no secret that Clemson football relies on high school recruitment rather than the transfer portal.

The Tigers were one of four FBS schools that did not land a transfer in the 2024 cycle. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney pursued four offensive linemen during the winter period but didn't land any. Yet, a troubling trend has started for the Tigers on the 2025 recruiting trail.

During the past six weeks, Clemson has missed out on several high school recruits who had listed the school as a finalist, like wide receiver Cortez Mills, offensive lineman Hardy Watts and cornerback Gregory Xavier Thomas, all four-star prospects. The Tigers did land four-star edge rusher Bryce Davis on Saturday to snap the team's recruiting drought, but their pursuit of several five-star recruits, including defensive lineman Elijah Griffin and offensive linemen Davis Sanders Jr. and Josh Petty, has also cooled, according to 247Sports.

Clemson's descent should help Tennessee land some big Palmetto State prospects.

 

[volKano]

Clemson has the #6 class on On3 with only 14 commits. Man they are really struggling.

I see what you are saying but I would take Heard today over the number 1 2026 OL prospect. The portal is to fill the gaps to make a good team better. Dabo is leaving the gaps and it shows.

 

[volKano]

Is Dabo’s career turning Into a mirror of Fulmers career. Lost good assistants and slow to change.

 

[LittleVol]

Is Dabo’s career turning Into a mirror of Fulmers career. Lost good assistants and slow to change.

No. Fulmer wasn't stubborn he just got out worked on the recruiting trail, and out coached by superior coaches. I mean he was facing Spurrier, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban every year.

If a young Fulmer were coaching at Kentucky, they would be a talented team in this era.
Fulmer would kill it in this transfer portal era, because he would have resonated with kids already in college and selling them in the experience of playing at Tennessee.

And he would have been much more comfortable doing what he liked to do anyway in redshirting his HS guys.

I think he's very opposite of Dabo in many ways
Dabo is just plum stubborn... he's still recruiting fairly well for just HS players,

 

[Jameis Jones]

Clemson has the #6 class on On3 with only 14 commits. Man they are really struggling.

They now have the #14 class with 14 commits, and without transfers in, they really need to be taking 30/yr and beating everyone else in HS recruiting. The fact that they only have 14 commits tells you they are failing to get the guys they think they need.

The ACC is so weak they can continue to win 9-10 games, but their time as a championship contender under Dabo is over.