Dabo Swinney explains linebacker’s dismissal from Clemson football team

Chapel Fowler
ALEX HICKS JR./USA TODAY NETWORK

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney thought T.J. Dudley, a redshirt freshman linebacker, “had a chance to be a really great player for us this year.”

But, in what Swinney described as a “disappointing situation,” Clemson chose to dismiss Dudley from the team last week for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

A former four-star recruit from Alabama, Dudley appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2022 and was expected to take on a reserve linebacker role this season behind starters Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz before his July 19 dismissal. He has also entered the transfer portal.

Swinney addressed Dudley’s dismissal for the first time Thursday during the ACC Kickoff preseason media event.

“Just a disappointing situation because he’s a good kid and, man, he had a chance to be a great player for us this year,” Swinney said. “So that definitely hurts us. ... It’s unfortunate, but we’ve got rules and sometimes it’s just best to get a fresh start. So, wish him well.”

Dudley played a career-high 13 snaps against UNC in the ACC championship game last year and made one tackle and also had a special teams tackle against Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin and Swinney both said during spring practice they expected him to take a step forward in 2023.

But 247Sports and On3 Sports reported July 19 that the redshirt freshman was entering the transfer portal after one season with the Tigers. A Clemson spokesperson told The State later that day Dudley had been dismissed “for a violation of team rules.”

Coming out Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic Prep, where he was a three-time all-state selection, Dudley ranked as the nation’s No. 22 linebacker recruit and No. 227 overall recruit in the Class of 2022.

Dudley’s dismissal takes Clemson down to six scholarship linebackers and will open up more backup linebacker and special teams snaps for McCloud and true freshmen Dee Crayton and Jamal Anderson.

Swinney also confirmed Thursday that Dudley’s departure drops Clemson to 83 scholarship players, two below the NCAA limit of 85, though only one of those two scholarships is technically “open.”

One has already been reserved for whoever wins Clemson’s competition for the starting long snapper position between Holden Caspersen and Philip Florenzo, Swinney said earlier this month.

“Hopefully I can put a couple of my guys back on that were on previously that we had to take off,” Swinney said Thursday. “Like our starting snappers — those guys are pretty important. ... (Running back) Domonique Thomas, he’s pretty important to our football team. So hopefully we’ll be able to reward a couple of those guys as we get through camp.”

Clemson football 2022-23 transfers

  • LB Sergio Allen (Cal)

  • WR Dacari Collins (NC State)

  • DE Kevin Swint (Georgia State)

  • QB Billy Wiles (Southern Miss)

  • LB LaVonta Bentley (Colorado)

  • CB Fred Davis II (UCF)

  • RB Kobe Pace (Virginia)

  • QB DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State)

  • WR E.J. Williams (Indiana)

  • DL Etinosa Reuben (Georgia Tech)

  • DB Malcolm Greene (Virginia)

  • K Liam Boyd (UNC)

  • LB T.J. Dudley (TBD)

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