Clemson football was built ‘in God’s name, image and likeness,’ Dabo Swinney says

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney went viral Wednesday for describing his program as being built on “God’s name, image and likeness” during a national signing day news conference.

Speaking after Clemson signed the nation’s No. 11 recruiting class of 2023, Swinney told reporters that the Tigers briefed prospects on NIL opportunities but didn’t lead with the subject.

Rather, he said, the school incorporated it into what he described as a “holistic approach” to recruiting that hasn’t changed since he was hired in 2008.

“Conversations have changed,” Swinney said. “There’s been more to talk about. Just like with applied science and nutrition and strength and conditioning and all those things. This is just another area that’s important. You’ve gotta make sure that you address it.

“Honestly, I was thinking about it this summer ... and honestly, for me, we built this program on NIL. We really did. And it’s probably different than what you’re thinking of. We built this program in God’s name, image and likeness.”

“That’s how I look at it. As things have changed, God has always been the foundation of what I do. We’ve been dealing with his name, image and likeness for a long time. And I think as this new era has come forward, God just continues to bless us here at Clemson.”

Swinney, in his 15th season at Clemson, has been outspoken in his Christian faith and often invokes God in news conferences. Recruits have been receptive to the approach. The Post and Courier reported in 2020 that of 13 current or incoming Clemson players, all of them “attributed their college decision in large part to Swinney’s transparency about his faith.”

Clemson’s 2023 recruiting ranks 12th nationally and second in the ACC behind Miami (No. 3). The 28-player class, which includes one transfer and one preferred walk-on, has one five-star recruit and 18 four-star recruits.

Here’s more news and notes from Swinney’s national signing day news conference, which came nine days before No. 7 Clemson plays No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

‘Incredibly talented’ players coming back

Without naming names, Swinney said Clemson will return a number of players in 2023 who could’ve opted to pursue professional careers.

“We’ve got some portal guys — they’re guys that are already here and they decided to stay,” Swinney said, laughing. “So they’re in the ‘I’m staying portal.’ ”

Two draft-eligible juniors on Clemson’s roster, defensive end Myles Murphy and linebacker Trenton Simpson, have announced they’ll leave for the NFL. Neither will play in the Orange Bowl: Murphy is opting out, and Simpson has a short-term ankle injury.

The most notable Clemson player yet to publicly make an NFL decision is junior defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who’s projected as a first-round pick by ESPN.

Other prominent veterans who could leave Clemson for a pro career but still have remaining eligibility include offensive tackle Jordan McFadden, tight end Davis Allen and wide receiver Joseph Ngata.

There are even more such players on defense: defensive ends K.J. Henry, Xavier Thomas and Justin Mascoll; defensive tackles Bresee, Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro; linebacker Keith Maguire; and defensive backs Sheridan Jones and Jalyn Phillips.

Clemson football early enrollees

Swinney said 14 of Clemson’s 26 high school signees will enroll early as mid-years in January 2023. It’s the most mid-years he’s had as a coach at Clemson, he said.

Mid-year enrollment is a growing trend in college football — especially for the upper echelon of a signing class. That’s the case here, with each of the top eight signees in Clemson’s 2023 class opting to graduate early and get a head start on their college careers.

Here’s the full list of early enrollees, per the school:

• 5-star DL Peter Woods

• 4-star QB Christopher Vizzina

• 4-star DL Vic Burley

• 4-star DL Tomarrion Parker

• 4-star DL Stephiylan Green

• 4-star IOL Harris Sewell

• 4-star OT Zechariah Owens

• 4-star LB Jamal Anderson

• 4-star OT Ian Reed

• 4-star WR Noble Johnson

• 4-star S Kylen Webb

• 4-star LB Dee Crayton

• 3-star S Khalil Barnes

• 3-star CB Shelton Lewis

Transfer quarterback Paul Tyson, who is immediately eligible, and preferred walk-on running back Peyton Streko, a former Air Force commit, will also enroll mid-year.

Swinney said Tyson, a former Alabama and Arizona State and the great grandson of legendary Crimson Tide football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, had an offer from an SEC school that wanted him to compete for its starting job but opted for Clemson instead.

Tyson will compete with four-star 2023 recruit Christopher Vizzina for backup quarterback duties behind Cade Klubnik, Clemson’s starter for the foreseeable future after an excellent ACC championship game.

Orange Bowl practice participation

Thanks to NCAA rule changes, expected early enrollees can participate in team practices leading into bowl games — not just on campus but on bowl sites, too, which is new for 2022.

“We’ve never been able to take guys with us,” Swinney said. “So I think it’ll be a great experience for them, an eye-opening thing … kinda give them a bit of a head start.”

Swinney said that four-star defensive lineman Vic Burley, three-star safety Khalil Barnes and three-star cornerback Shelton Lewis are already on campus practicing with Clemson and will practice during bowl week, too.

A Clemson football spokesperson also told The State that four-star defensive lineman Stephiylan Green and four-star offensive tackle Ian Reed are also tentatively slated to attend bowl week but their practice participation “may be TBD.”

More 2023 Clemson recruiting notes

Here are a few more nuggets on Clemson’s 2023 signing class via the school’s release:

• Clemson’s recruiting classes has finished in at least the top 15 of at least one “primary recruiting service” (ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports) every year since 2011. The only other schools to do that: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Those rankings won’t be finalized until after the February 2023 regular signing period, but all signs point to the Tigers extending that streak to 13 classes this cycle.

• Clemson’s signing of running back Jarvis Green marked the third consecutive cycle the Tigers have grabbed a player from Dutch Fork High School, a preeminent state powerhouse in Irmo. Clemson signed athlete Will Taylor in the class of 2021 and wide receiver Antonio Williams in the class of 2022.

• Clemson signed 11 players from Georgia, its most in a single class since 1985 (also 11). The state of Georgia ended up producing the most players in the Tigers’ class for the fourth time in the last five years and sixth time in the last five years.- Georgia’s 45 Clemson signees since 2016 are the most of any state.

• Clemson has signed at least four players from the state of Alabama in consecutive cycles for the first time on record dating back to 1972. Clemson’s three Texas signees are also its most on record for a single class dating back to 1972.

• Wide receiver Ronan Hanafin is only the second recruit to sign with Clemson since 2000 (defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in 2015) and only the fourth from Massachusetts since 1972.