Transfer Portal: How Clemson's opponents reshaped their rosters this offseason

In 62 days, Clemson will kick off the 2023 football season at Duke and also another year without a long list of players from the transfer portal. Instead, the Tigers, have consecutive seasons with one transfer, a quarterback, to add depth and experience to the position.

Last season, Hunter Johnson, a former Clemson 2017 class signee and Northwestern quarterback, joined the team and last December, former Alabama (2019-2021) and Arizona State (2022) quarterback Paul Tyson, the great-grandson of the late Crimson Tide head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, was welcomed to campus as a redshirt graduate senior. 

Colorado has the top portal class, according to 247Sports, and added more players (51) from the portal than any other football program. Florida State has the top ACC class at No. 5 followed by Miami at No. 7 and No. 12 Louisville. Louisville leads the way in number of commits with 27 and Georgia Tech (18) and Miami (16) are second and third, respectively, in the league.

Here's a look at the Tigers' FBS opponents’ total portal additions (in parentheses) and notable players (in bold print) from each team. 

at Duke (7) Sept. 04

OL Jake Hornibrook, GR, (Stanford), started 11 games at left guard in 2022. 

CB Al Blades Jr., GR, (Miami), a former top 15 prep cornerback, has 93 tackles, four INTs, and 14 PBUs in 49 career games. 

CB Myles Jones, GR, (Texas A&M), has 124 tackles, four INTs, and 28 PBUs in 49 games (29 starts). 

Florida Atlantic (15) Sept. 16

OL Woody Jean, R-SO, (Arizona) 

QB Casey Thompson, GR, (Nebraska), a former ESPN 300 recruit and Texas Longhorn, passed for 2,407 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a starter in 2022.

QB Daniel Richardson, JR, (Central Michigan), passed for 1,988 yards with 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions as the starter last season. He passed for 424 yards and 4 touchdowns against Oklahoma State. 

RB Kobe Lewis, GR, (Purdue), rushed for over 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns for Central Michigan in 2019, where he played from 2018-2021. In 2022, he gained 146 yards on 43 carries in 13 games.

TE Kahlil Brantley, R-SO, (Miami), was credited with four receptions and a touchdown in 2022.

TE Elijah Brown, R-SO, (Alabama), the No. 11 tight end in the 2022 class. 

WR Devin Price, JR, (Texas A&M), started one game in 2022 (four receptions for 52 yards). 

LB Desmond Tisdol, SR, (Auburn) 

DB Jalen Huff, R-SO, (Georgia Tech)

Florida State (12) Sept. 23

OL Jeremiah Byers, R-JR, (UTEP), No. 1 offensive tackle in 247Sports transfer rankings and first-team 2022 All-Conference USA. 

OL Casey Roddick, R-SR, (Colorado), 22 consecutive starts between 2021-2022 seasons.

RB Caziah Holmes, R-JR, (Penn State), former top 10 all-purpose running back, appeared in 12 games over two seasons at Penn State…rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns 

TE Jaheim Bell, R-JR, (South Carolina), No. 1 tight end in 247Sports transfer rankings. Bell had 25 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns and 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

TE Kyle Morlock, R-JR, (Shorter), Two-time All-American at Shorter College. He made 57 catches for 890 yards with 11 touchdowns in two seasons.

WR Keon Coleman, JR, (Michigan State), the No. 4 wide receiver in the transfer portal by 247Sports, caught 58 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. 

DE Gilber Edmond, R-JR, (South Carolina), No. 3 defensive end by 247Sports portal rankings. He played in 12 games (10 starts) compiling 39 tackles (9.0 for loss), two sacks, and nine quarterback pressures.

DL Braden Fiske, R-SR, (Western Michigan), Top defensive lineman in portal per 247Sports and second-team 2022 All-MAC performer. Last season, Fiske had 58 tackles (12.0 for loss), six sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. 

DL Darrell Jackson, JR, (Miami), registered 27 tackles (4.5 for loss) and three sacks in 2022.

CB Fentrell Cypress II, R-JR, (Virginia), No. 4 overall in transfer portal by 247Sports and second-team All-ACC. He led the ACC in pass breakups with 14 and made 54 tackles.

at Syracuse (9) Sept. 30

OL Joe More, GR, (Richmond), started three consecutive seasons at offensive tackle. 

LB Khalib Gilmore, R-JR, (West Florida), was credited with 40 tackles (three tackles for loss), three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in six games during an injury-shortened season.

DL Braylen Ingraham, R-JR, (Alabama)

QB Braden Davis, SO, (South Carolina), was the No.1 quarterback in Delaware in 2022 and the state's 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year.

DB Jayden Bellamy, R-FR, (Notre Dame) 

S Jaeden Gould, R-FR, (Nebraska), the top-ranked player in Nebraska’s 2022 recruiting class (played in one game in 2022).

Wake Forest (4) Oct. 7

WR Walker Merrill, JR, (Tennessee), played in 13 games and recorded eight receptions for 119 yards with three scores in 2022. 

DL Bryce Ganious, JR, (Villanova), Tallied 58 total tackles (10.0 for loss), four sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2021 and 2022. 

LB Jacob Roberts, SR, (NC A&T), recorded 72 tackles (5.5 tackles for loss), five PBUs, and added two INTs, both of which were returned for touchdowns.

at Miami (16) Oct. 21

OL Javion Cohen, R-JR, (Alabama), 2022 second-team All-SEC selection and 2020 All-SEC Freshmen

C Matt Lee, R-SR, (UCF), Pro Football Focus's highest-graded returning center for 2023.

RB Ajay Allen, SO, (Nebraska), appeared in four games for the Cornhuskers in 2022 before suffering an injury. He rushed for 190 yards with 3 total touchdowns. 

TE Cam McCormick, GR, (Oregon), had 10 receptions for 66 yards with three touchdowns in 2022.

WR Tyler Harrell, R-SR, (Alabama), the speedster (4.24 seconds over 40 yards) missed games in 2022 with an injury and finished with two catches for 18 yards. In 2021, he caught 18 passes for 523 yards (29.1 average) with six touchdowns for Louisville.

DT Branson Deen, GR, (Purdue), averaged 27 tackles, over six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 22 games from 2021 to 2022.

DT Thomas Gore, GR, (Georgia State), had combined totals of 83 tackles (17.5 tackles for loss) and 7.5 sacks from 2021 to 2022. 

LB Francisco Mauigoa, JR, (Washington State), totaled 60 tackles (5.5 tackles for loss), 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception last season. 

CB Davonte Brown, R-JR, (UCF), had 30 tackles and two INTs in 2022.

CB Jaden Davis, GR, (Oklahoma), started nine games last season before missing three due to an injury. He finished with 35 tackles and two PBUs.

at NC State (7) Oct. 28

OL Dawson Jaramillo, GR, (Oregon)

QB Brennan Armstrong, GR, (Virginia), UVA's all-time career record-holder in passing yards (8,442), total offense (9,278), touchdowns (57), season total offense (4,700), season passing yards (4,449), season passing touchdowns (31), single-game passing yards (554), and single-game total offense (538).

WR Dacari Collins, R-SO, (Clemson), caught 16 receptions for 221 yards over nine games (three starts) in 2021.

DL Noah Potter, GR, (Cincinnati), was credited with 18 total tackles, including four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2022.

S Robert Kennedy III, GR, (Old Dominion), had 52 tackles, six PBUs, and an interception as a starter. 

Notre Dame (9) Nov. 4

QB Sam Hartman, GR, (Wake Forest), threw for 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns. He was the MVP of the Gasparilla Bowl, Davey O’Brien Semifinalist, and Brian Piccolo Award Winner, all in 2022, and left the ACC as the record holder in touchdown passes with 110. 

Devyn Ford, GR, (Penn State), is a former four-star running back and rated as high as No. 5 by 247Sports. 

DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, G-SR, (Ohio State), recorded 19 tackles (4.5 for loss), four sacks, and one PBU in 2022. 

S Antonio Carter, GR, (Rhode Island), had 105 tackles, 17 PBUs, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries the past two seasons. 

S Thomas Harper, GR, (Oklahoma State) 

Georgia Tech (18) Nov. 11

QB Haynes King R-SO (Texas A&M), a former starter who had 1,220 passing yards with seven touchdowns and six INTs while dealing with injuries in 2022.

RB Trey Cooley, JR, (Louisville), rushed for 278 yards on 59 carries with two touchdowns in 2022 (8 games).

TE Brett Seither, R-JR, (Georgia)

WR Dominick Blaylock, R-JR, (Georgia), caught 15 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in 2022. 

WR Abdul Janneh, R-JR, (Duquesne), caught 43 passes for 579 yards with nine touchdowns in 2022.

WR Chase Lane, R-JR, (Texas A&M), caught seven passes for 76 yards in 2022 in eight games.

WR Christian Leary, JR, (Alabama), a speedster with a PR time of 10.5 in the 100 meters and former No. 9 receiver in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

DT Etinosa Reuben, R-JR, (Clemson), had two tackles and a blocked field goal in 2022 but 17 tackles (3.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 2021.

LB Paul Moala, R-SR, (Idaho), had 61 tackles (seven for loss), two sacks, four INTs, and a forced fumble. 

LB Braelen Oliver, R-SR, (Minnesota), was credited with 33 tackles in 2022. 

LB Andre White Jr., SR, (Texas A&M)

DB Omar Daniels, R-SO, (Kansas State)

North Carolina (9) Nov. 18 

C Willie Lampkin, JR, (Coastal Carolina), 2022 first-team All-Sun Belt. 

WR Nate McCollum, JR, (Georgia Tech), led the jackets with 60 catches for 655 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. He also averaged 11.3 yards on punt returns.

WR Devontez Walker, JR, (Kent State), had 58 receptions for 921 yards with 11 touchdowns. 

LB Amari Gainer, GR, (Florida State), appeared in just seven games in 2022 (suffered an early injury) and has 19 starts in five seasons. 

CB Armani Chatman, GR, (Virginia Tech), finished with 22 tackles, one interception, and five PBUs in 2022. 

CB Elijah Huzzie, JR, (ETSU), First-team 2022 All-SoCon. Huzzie had 59 tackles, six INTs (second in FCS), and 16 PBUs in 2022. 

S Antavious Lane, GR, (Georgia State), Three-time All-Sun Belt safety with 11 career INTs. 

S Derrik Allen, GR, (Georgia Tech)

at South Carolina (12) Nov. 25

OL Nick Gargiulo, GR, (Yale), 2022 First team Ivy League

OL Jaxon Hughes, GR, (Charlotte), a two-year starter, will be a preferred walk-on in 2023.

RB Mario Anderson, R-SR, (Newberry), First-team Division II All-America and finalist for Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in Division II. Anderson rushed for 1,560 yards (school record) with 19 touchdowns in 2022. 

WR Eddie Lewis, GR, (Memphis), totaled 41 receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns with a punt return for a score.

TE Nick Elksnis, R-SO, (Florida)

TE Trey Knox, GR, (Arkansas), caught 26 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns.

TE Joshua Simon, GR, (Western Kentucky), Crestwood High (SC) alum made the 2022 All-Conference USA Second Team with 20 catches for 273 yards and seven touchdowns.

DL Jatius Greer, R-SO, (Syracuse), Palmetto native from Belton Honea-Path High started 12 games last season (33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks). 

LB Jaron Willis, R-FR, (Ole Miss)

S DeAngelo Gibbs, GR, (Tennessee), the former No. 4 safety in the 2017 class is also a former Georgia signee and has been in and out of football in recent years.