All-SoCon Standout Dylan Faulkner Commits to Clemson

Clemson men's basketball bolstered its frontcourt depth on Friday with the addition of Dylan Faulkner, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound senior transfer from the Samford Bulldogs. 

Faulkner arrives following a highly productive 2025–26 season, earning All-SoCon First Team and All-Defense honors after averaging 17.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 62 percent from the field, totaled 42 blocks, and recorded 12 double-doubles across 29 games.

He becomes the second portal addition for head coach Brad Brownell, joining former Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball guard Cole Certa, who signed Sunday following a late-season surge.

He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Lipscomb before transferring alongside head coach Lennie Acuff to Samford after an injury limited his sophomore year to 15 games, where he still averaged 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Faulkner’s junior season featured several high-level performances, including a career-high 27-point outing at Mercer and 23 points, 14 rebounds (also a career-high), and five assists against Western Carolina. 

Faulkner is expected to factor into the frontcourt rotation following the departure of power forward RJ Godfrey, though his transition to the ACC will require adjustments.

He is not a perimeter shooter, going 0-for-17 from three-point range in three seasons, but compensates with interior efficiency and aggressiveness. Faulkner attempted 229 free throws this past season, significantly more than Godfrey (team-leading 144) and Tigers' starting center Carter Welling (137), demonstrating his ability to attack the rim, though he converted just 56 percent.

Adding strength will be a priority as he prepares for the physical demands of ACC play, but his production, defensive presence, and ability to get to the line provide Clemson with an experienced and proven frontcourt option.