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Just a few months ago, Ian Schieffelin was banging in the paint for Clemson basketball. Now, he’s learning the nuances of blocking schemes and route trees on the football field.
The 6-foot-7, 260-pound senior, affectionately known as “The Chef,” for his gritty, do-it-all style on the court, is stirring up a new recipe — this time as a tight end for the Clemson Tigers football program. After wrapping up his hoops career in March, when the Tigers fell 69-67 to McNeese State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Grayson, GA native stayed active in basketball circles. He participated in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (April 16-19), where 64 elite college seniors compete in front of NBA scouts and executives.
"I went to that Portsmouth Invitational. I had some good meetings with some NBA teams and some good little trajectories and where you could go and where you could be in four or five years," Schieffelin said after fall practice Monday. "I think overall, I just kind of prayed on it and went with my gut and decided on joining the football team."
Schieffelin hasn’t played organized football since 10th grade at Grayson High School. He started as a tight end in middle school but was moved to quarterback due to his strong arm, before eventually focusing solely on basketball.
Exactly how the idea of Schieffelin playing football at Clemson came together remains a bit murky — even for Schieffelin himself.
"I don't know exactly. I'm pretty sure one of my friends' dads called him [head coach Dabo Swinney] and just reached out to him about the idea of it," he explained. "It was one of those things when I was told about it, and he called me that night, and I really thought about it."
Swinney, never one to shy away from unconventional roster moves, saw potential in Schieffelin’s blend of size, strength, and footwork—traits honed in the ACC over the last four seasons. While Schieffelin admits there’s rust to shake off, he’s embraced the opportunity with open arms.
“Athletically, I feel as athletic as the guy next to me, as the guy across from me,” he said. “The hardest adjustment’s probably kind of getting out there and learning from almost ground zero again. It’s kind of like coming in as a freshman playing basketball. I think the only difference is that, being 22 years old now, I know what to expect, and how hard it is, and that there's going to be days that you don't have your best stuff.”
“The best part about it is that this journey is going to be a lot of adversity,” he added, “and [I’m] willing to take on all of it.”
Schieffelin arrives at a tight end room that’s already loaded with talent, and while expectations for on-field production are modest in year one, his value to the team may go far beyond receptions or snaps.
“Whether it's special teams, if I can figure out some way to just help the team there, or if it's even giving out water to all the guys—I’ll do it,” he said. “Whatever’s best for Clemson is why I’m here.”
That commitment to the Paw made Schieffelin a fan favorite in basketball, and when he makes that first run down the hill on August 30 against LSU, he’ll be thinking of the moment, and maybe trying not to trip.
“Honestly, I’ll say that I’m a little nervous,” he said with a laugh. “It’s pretty steep. I’ve been on the side of the hill, so...never ran down it.”
But in true Schieffelin fashion, he’s leaning into it; nerves, challenge, and all. He may see a familiar sight waiting for him in Death Valley.
“At the Ladies Clinic, a lot of the ladies said that they would be bringing the Chef hats," he said, grinning. "So, we will see."
