Garrett Riley on Ian Schieffelin’s Move from Hoops to Gridiron: “He Can Be an Asset"
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When Clemson football opens fall camp this year, one of the most intriguing names on the roster won’t be a blue-chip recruit or returning star. Instead, it’ll be Ian Schieffelin—the veteran Clemson basketball forward who’s making a bold transition to football as a tight end. And if you ask offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, there’s every reason to be excited about this unique experiment.
“We haven’t been able to do much with him this summer,” Riley admitted when asked about Schieffelin’s progress. “But I’m just trying to hear from the other guys what they think about him and all that, and it sounds like he’s picking some things up.”
While NCAA rules have limited Riley’s direct interaction with Schieffelin during the summer, the word in the locker room is positive. Teammates have praised the 6’8, 240-pounder’s willingness to dive into the playbook and his rapid adjustment to the demands of football conditioning. Schieffelin’s learning curve will be steep, but Riley believes his presence alone gives Clemson an intriguing new option on offense.
“He can be an asset,” Riley said. “So I’m excited to have a guy like that, for sure.”
What made the football staff believe Schieffelin could pull off this transition? For Riley, the answer starts with the way Schieffelin played basketball.
“I just think the way he played basketball, right? Kind of gritty. Obviously, he’s big—he’s huge for our sport,” Riley said with a grin. “I saw some of his high school tape, things that he did in high school, so some things aren’t gonna be totally foreign to him or new to him. So I’m excited to really see it with my own eyes. Playing football at this level is hard.”
Schieffelin was a multi-sport athlete, playing quarterback until eighth grade and tight end in ninth grade before a complete shift to hoops. His basketball background—rebounding, blocking out, setting screens—translates well to tight end, where physicality, spatial awareness, and body control are critical.
So, what are reasonable expectations for Schieffelin in his first football season since high school? Riley tempers the hype with honesty.
“I mean, is it realistic that he can be an athlete? Yeah, I think for sure,” Riley explained. “There’s a handful of guys I can think about in the last five, ten years or so that have had a similar story. Played basketball and went and played football for a year, and caught balls or sacked the quarterback or whatever it is. Playing tight end or defensive end is what you typically see them play.”
Riley referenced recent college football converts, none specifically by name, but athletes like Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham have successfully switched from the hardwood to the NFL gridiron. But the bar is high, and Riley is quick to point out that Schieffelin will have to earn his snaps on a roster full of experienced tight ends.
“A lot of it’s just going to be what he can handle and what makes sense for us, because we’ve got a lot of other good players around him,” Riley said. “So that’ll be the fun part for us as coaches.”
As camp approaches, Schieffelin’s football journey will be one of the most-watched storylines for Clemson fans. With his size, determination, and athletic background, there’s real curiosity to see if this basketball fan favorite can make an impact.
For Riley and the coaching staff, Schieffelin’s project is more than just a headline—it’s a chance to add a unique weapon to the Clemson offense. “I’m excited to be around him,” Riley concluded. “I’m excited to have a guy like that, for sure.”
