CLEMSON — Clemson football looks primed to bounce back from its down recruiting class in 2025.
The Tigers hosted their “Elite Retreat” this past weekend, one of their biggest annual recruiting events, and secured several commitments to boost their ranking to No. 2 nationally in the 2026 class behind Southern California, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
“We’ve got a huge recruiting day (on Saturday), so I’ll be here till about 9 (Saturday night),” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said during his spring practice availability on Friday.
Those pledges include four-star offensive linemen Adam Guthrie, Grant Wise and Chancellor Barclay; four-star wide receivers Naeem Burroughs and Connor Salmin; four-star safety Kaden Gebhardt and three-star cornerback Marcell Gipson. Clemson’s 2026 class is up to 13 recruits with eight four-stars, four three-stars and one player who isn’t rated.
This recruiting surge comes after Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class finished with 15 signees and ranked 26th nationally. It was Swinney’s lowest-rated cycle since his second full season as Clemson’s coach in 2010 and his smallest class since 2017.
Swinney anticipated his 2025 class to be small, though, because Clemson didn’t have the flexibility to add many recruits. It retained nearly every scholarship player who had eligibility remaining after the 2024 season, and roster and scholarship limits are going to change by the beginning of the season, thanks to the pending settlement of the House v. NCAA federal antitrust cases.
Last season, Clemson had a roster size over 130 players, including walk-ons. The settlement would eliminate walk-ons and have only a roster of 105 scholarship players.
How Clemson football recruiting has performed since NIL, transfer era
Clemson’s recruiting has been on a downward trend since 2021, when the NCAA allowed players to transfer without penalty and with immediate eligibility, and enrolled players were permitted to profit on their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Since those changes, Clemson’s recruiting ranks have dipped year to year, going from No. 5 in 2021 to No. 10 in 2022 to No. 11 in ’23 and ’24 to No. 26 in ’25. This occurred as Clemson endured a three-year absence from the College Football Playoff before returning last season in the expanded 12-team format.
Swinney has been vocal about his NIL stance in recruiting, expressing that if it is the main factor, Clemson won’t land players. However, if NIL is a component to a player’s recruiting, Clemson can recruit with top programs.
“Well, what sucks for you guys is the fact that we aren’t buying players,” Guthrie, the four-star lineman commit from Ohio posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “We are getting guys who want to be here and are big on faith. And want to be turned into men and are looked at as human beings not just ball players.”
What makes Clemson football’s recruiting resurgence impressive
Clemson’s 2026 class haul showcases it is still a powerhouse in recruiting. The Tigers beat out other prominent Power 4 programs like Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia and Notre Dame for the players. Not only did it secure commitments from players who live in Clemson’s proximity, but it received them from players in Texas, Ohio and Maryland.
The addition of offensive line coach Matt Luke in December 2023 has paid dividends with Clemson securing four lineman, including three four-stars, in 2026. After adding breakout wide receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore in 2024, wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham earned pledges from two more speedy receivers in next year’s class.
The Tigers also added two quarterbacks, Tait Reynolds and Brock Bradley, and have three defensive backs committed in 2026. During the past two seasons, Clemson has led the nation in true freshman snaps, the total number of plays that first-year freshmen participated in during games.
Clemson football 2026 recruiting class needs
The Tigers will add more recruits in 2026, too, because they will likely lose many of their key contributors after the 2025 season, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, linebacker Wade Woodaz, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart and four starting offensive lineman. They can also lose high-end third-year players, like wide receiver Antonio Williams, defensive backs Avieon Terrell and Khalil Barnes and defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker.
According to 247Sports, Clemson is still targeting various positions. A need is edge rusher with Parker potentially leaving and Caden Denhoff’s eligibility ending at the end of the 2025 season. Clemson is eyeing multiple four-stars, including Dre Quinn, Cam Brooks and Khamari Brooks, all from Georgia.
Another position of recruiting emphasis is safety with Clemson giving out nine offers so far. Top recruits Clemson is eyeing are Kentavion Anderson (from Dorman High in Spartanburg County), Blake Stewart (Georgia) and Kaiden Hall (Florida) — all four-stars. Tyler Venables will be gone, Barnes could go pro and the team has many emerging but inexperienced players behind them.
Clemson’s 2026 recruiting success is a change in pace from the 2025 class, but it is still early in the cycle. It suffered seven decommitments in 2025, an unprecedented number for the program. Players who are committed could reopen their commitments before December’s national signing day, but the latest pick-ups indicate Clemson is still a force in recruiting.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
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