Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class had a smooth early signing day, but decommitments have been a persistent issue for the Tigers this year, marking a shift in recruiting challenges for head coach Dabo Swinney.
On signing day, Clemson had a relatively quiet day, adding one new commit as planned. However, decommitments throughout the season have left a shadow over the class. Seven 2025 recruits who were once committed to the Tigers have since signed with other schools. Notably, five of these decommits are four-star recruits or higher according to 247Sports, with the majority ranked as four-stars by the site’s composite score.
What’s more troubling is that four of these decommits occurred in the final months of the season, after October 14—just 52 days ago. Despite these setbacks, Clemson managed to retain its top recruit, defensive lineman Amare Adams, a long-time commitment from Florence, SC. However, questions linger about whether he would have stayed if he weren’t from the state of South Carolina.
With 15 players signed, Clemson’s class ranks No. 26 nationally, a relatively low spot considering other programs, like TCU, have significantly larger classes. The small size of Clemson’s 2025 class reflects challenges, especially as Dabo Swinney continues to resist relying heavily on the transfer portal.
Despite these issues, Clemson’s incoming talent is still strong. Swinney and his staff may still have time to bolster the class by February, but the team will need to address these challenges in the coming months to stay competitive.
