The quote that made the rounds was taken out of context, but the real answer was in the full quote.
After going on ACC Network Wednesday to explain why Clemson was the only non-FBS service academy not to take a single transfer in the 2023-24 cycle, Dabo Swinney on Thursday expounded on Clemson's strategy -- if you want to call it that -- on SiriusXM College.
"There's three types of players in the portal. It's really pretty simple," Swinney said. "Most of the guys in the portal aren't good enough to play for us."
This is true, but also missing the point. Most, as in greater than 50 percent, of the guys in the portal aren't good enough to play for Clemson... but we're talking about a team that went 4-4 in ACC play last season. If there are guys in the portal good enough to play for Ohio State, and Georgia, and Texas, there are guys good enough for Clemson.
As for them?
"The second type of guying going in the portal, he's only going in as a formality because the deal's already been done. He knows where he's going before he ever goes in the portal. So we're not getting that guy.
"And then the third type of guy is going in the portal just to see what he can get. And we're never going to win that war."
And there you have it.
I actually believe Dabo when he implies Clemson doesn't tamper, but he also states plainly that his program doesn't have the war chest to win the recruiting battle for difference makers in the portal. And there are difference makers in the portal. Twenty-three of the top 100 picks in last month's draft transferred from one four-year institution to another at some point in their college career.
"Most of the guys in the portal aren't good enough to play for us." @ClemsonFB HC Dabo Swinney explains to @RoddyJones20 the three types of players in the transfer portal and why none of them landed in Death Valley. #ALLIN
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) May 16, 2024
Hear the full interview: https://t.co/0qgyAQVk3y pic.twitter.com/9HFwUY4BfX
Another explanation is that Clemson's NIL structure isn't set up to pay transfers what they would get on the open market.
Either way, this is Dabo's second time explaining Clemson's lack of action in the portal to a national media outlet. He clearly likes what his program's doing; he mentioned both times that they had 127 players go through spring ball, and 125 are still on the roster. The times are changing, but Dabo isn't.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.