Clemson is one of the 10 teams most ravaged by NFL Draft and transfer portal losses

Swinney and the Tigers are losing a lot of talent to the NFL draft and the transfer portal.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are losing some talent from their 2023 team, and it will be up to the coaching staff and players on the roster to make up for these losses. 

The Tigers got hit in both the NFL draft and the transfer portal, with top players formerly on the roster entering both. There were some big losses, with 247Sports naming Clemson the No.8 roster most ravaged by NFL Draft and transfer portal losses.

Three notable starters were 2024 NFL Draft early exits for the Tigers and they’re forced to replace impact guys in the secondary, too. Clemson won five straight games to end the 2023 season, but there’s reason to believe Dabo Swinney’s team will not be mentioned among the frontrunners to take the ACC.

What’s happening to fix: The only program inside the top 25 in 2024 recruiting without a single transfer portal signee, Clemson has to hope much of its young talent from several elite classes in recent years are ready to star next season. Year 2 for former five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik is vital toward this offense’s success under Garrett Riley as is the expectation a few key returning starters defensively can carry the team.

While the Tigers did lose a lot, I would be lying if I didn’t say I think this is a drastic overreaction. Depending on where you look for betting lines, Clemson is between the No.10 and No.12 for the best odds to win the National Championship next year… Does that sound like a team that won’t be a frontrunner to win the ACC in 2024? No, it doesn’t.

There is talent all over this Clemson roster, and even if you lose a lot, that doesn’t mean your team is going to suffer. The Tigers’ defense is expected to once again be elite in 2024, with most of the concern revolving around the offense.

Now, let’s discuss this Clemson offense a bit. The losses are minimal here, with the biggest loss being star running back Will Shipley. While Shipley is an excellent player and was the focal point of Clemson’s offense for some time, Phil Mafah emerged as the Tigers’ top guy as the season kept going,
Losing Beaux Collins could hurt, but I won’t sit here and act like he was a game-breaker for the Tigers. He had his great moments, but with the great came a lot of bad. Collins had some massive drops this season that directly affected multiple games.

This offense returns a lot, and it truly revolves around development at this point. If Cade Klubnik takes the next step under center and gets more reliable play from the offensive line and wide receiver units… This Clemson team will undoubtedly be one of the most dangerous teams in the ACC.
Clemson is once again becoming something they thrived as: an underdog.

Former Tigers rank high on ESPN’s transfer portal rankings

Former Tigers were some of the top players in the transfer portal.

The transfer portal has become a massive piece of what college football is today and it is something that no team can avoid. Whether you’re as big of a program as an Alabama or as small as an Akron (sorry, Akron), the portal will effect your team in one way or another.

For the Clemson football program, it is far less about what they bring in and ultimately about what they lose. The Tigers are one of the least active transfer portal teams in college football, but that doesn’t mean they don’t lose players to it. We’ve seen some great players depart in the transfer portal, with more coming this season.

ESPN recently ranked the top 75 transfer portal players ($$$), with multiple former Tigers making the list. Here is each of those Tigers and what writer Tom VanHaaren had to say about them.

Texas brings back Duane Akina as defensive analyst

Texas is officially back to being DBU.

It has been a busy weekend on the Forty Acres between the transfer portal, early enrollees moving in and coaches coming and going. Continue reading “Texas brings back Duane Akina as defensive analyst”

Texas has highest average 2024 transfer class ranking

Texas has targeted highly rated players at positions of need.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has found success via the NCAA transfer portal. Continue reading “Texas has highest average 2024 transfer class ranking”

How Steve Sarkisian has attacked the transfer portal

Taking a look at how Sark went after positions of need in the transfer portal.

Instead of just taking any talented player, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have gone after positions of need in the NCAA transfer portal this year.

Texas has added three players from the portal over the last month that are expected to make an immediate impact in 2024.

Firstly, with Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy likely heading to the NFL, the wide receiver room in 2024 will lack experience. That’s where Matthew Golden comes in. The transfer wide receiver from Houston recorded nearly 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two-year career and was one of the top players that entered the portal.

The safety position has been lackluster for Texas in 2023, and the defense has given up big plays on multiple occasions. So, with Jahdae Barron and Jerrin Thompson playing their final season in Austin, Sarkisian targets the best safety in the portal with Austin native Andrew Mukuba.

Finally, with the defensive line losing their best players, T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, they targeted the best edge rusher in the portal: Trey Moore. The UTSA transfer totaled 45 tackles, 14 sacks, and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2023 during his time with the Roadrunners.

Instead of just bringing anyone he could in, Sark targeted positions of need and where Texas will be losing players next season.

As Sarkisian would say, Texas is on a heater.

Social media reacts to Clemson transfer DB Andrew Mukuba choosing Texas

Andrew Mukuba is coming back home to Austin.

Andrew Mukuba is coming back home. The Clemson transfer and former Austin LBJ product has chosen to further his football career as a defensive back for the Texas Longhorns.

Mukuba is undoubtedly a huge get for the team. The three-year starter and former freshman All-American provides stability in a secondary that loses a couple of veteran players.

Many believe the Austin native will fill the star role vacated by arguably Texas’ top defensive back Jahdae Barron. The nickel position will demand versatility from whoever mans that role, and Mukuba’s strong history as a tackler as well as in coverage bodes well for the Texas defense at the position.

The Texas secondary is looking good for 2024. Two of its best three safeties return in breakout star Michael Taaffe and impressive freshman talent Derek Williams Jr. At cornerback, the Longhorns are set to play coverage specialist Terrance Brooks and quickly developing Malik Muhammad.

Here’s a look at how fans are taking in Mukuba’s impactful decision.

Former Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba announces transfer to Texas

Former Tiger Andrew Mukuba is heading to Texas.

One of the top players in the transfer portal has announced where he will be playing football next season.

Former Tigers’ star safety Andrew Mukuba has announced that he is transferring to Texas to continue his college football career. Mukuba is heading back to his hometown of Austin Texas.

Mukuba finished the 2023 season with 42 total tackles and six passes defended. In his three years at Clemson, the former four-star recruit had 142 total tackles, 15 passes defended, one interception and one sack.

In his career with the Tigers, Mukuba totaled 49 tackles (4.5 for loss), a sack, 20 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception in 1,734 snaps over 35 Clemson games (31 starts).

Sooner Scoop analyst predicts Clemson DB Andrew Mukuba to Texas

Mukuba could land in the Adonai Mitchell tier of Texas transfer additions in the portal era.

Clemson transfer defensive back Andrew Mukuba could be trending toward the Texas Longhorns. Those who cover the Texas side of the recruitment have held that belief since Mukuba entered the transfer portal, but it appears Oklahoma analysts might view it the same way.

Sooner Scoop’s Josh McCuistion placed a prediction for the Longhorns to land the big time defensive back from the Clemson Tigers. That appears significant given Oklahoma is perhaps Texas’ primary competitor in the Mukuba recruitment.

Make no mistake: Mukuba’s upside paired with his floor could make him as impactful as current Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has been among portal additions. The three-year Clemson starter earned freshman All-American honors in his first season with the Tigers.

Mukuba compiled 28 tackles and 6 pass breakups in 10 games this season. Undoubtedly his experience would aid what would be a young secondary. That said, the Longhorns would have plenty of proven talent surrounding the former Austin native.

Texas would be fine with safeties Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams Jr. with Jaylon Guilbeau at nickel and elite cornerback talents Malik Muhammad and Terrance Brooks. As a freshman, Muhammad has progressed perhaps even faster than Brooks did a year ago. The two skilled corners project to be one of the better duos in college football at the position next season.

While Texas could make do without Mukuba, he raises the ceiling and floor for the Longhorns secondary. Given the high volume of injuries that could occur in the secondary, having a steady starter like Mukuba would be advantageous for the team.

We will keep an eye on the Clemson transfer’s recruitment as it progresses.

Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba announces multiple visits to top programs

Andrew Mukuba announces multiple upcoming visits to top schools.

The transfer portal has been in full swing lately, with a top Clemson player announcing his decision to enter the portal and now revealing some of the schools he will take visits to soon.

“I’m visiting OU, Texas, Oregon, Ole Miss and (Southern Cal) next week,” Mukuba said, via Horns247. No surprises here that one of the top talents in the portal is visiting some of the top schools around the country.

Mukuba finished the 2023 season with 42 total tackles and six passes defended. In his three years at Clemson, the former four-star recruit had 142 total tackles, 15 passes defended, one interception and one sack.

There are no indications where Mukuba is heading yet, but it is a situation we will monitor closely.

Sooners expected to host highly-touted Clemson defensive back per report

The Oklahoma Sooners are expected to host Clemson safety transfer Andrew Mukuba.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been active in the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag], targeting guys with experience who can come in and add to the competitive depth on the roster. They’ve added Michigan State offensive tackle Spencer Brown, and it looks like they’re in the mix for one of the top transfers in the portal.

According to Jason Suchomel of Orange Bloods, the Oklahoma Sooners will be one of several teams to host elite Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba. Along with Oklahoma, Mukuba will visit Texas, Oregon, and Ole Miss in the coming week.

Mukuba is a former four-star safety out of Austin, Texas, who has played the last three seasons with the Clemson Tigers. He’s amassed more than 1,700 snaps in his collegiate career.

More: 2023-2024 Oklahoma Sooners Transfer Portal Tracker

The Texas Longhorns are the favorite to earn Mukuba’s commitment in the transfer portal, given they’re the hometown team. However, given Mukuba’s ties to Brent Venables from their time together at Clemson, there’s a chance the Sooners could add Mukuba to their defensive backfield.

Mukuba spends most of his time as the free safety but will also line up in coverage on opposing slot players. In three seasons, he’s totaled 143 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and 16 passes defended. In 2023, quarterbacks had an NFL passer rating of 64.7 when targeting Mukuba in coverage, which was the 13th-best opposing passer rating in the ACC among defensive backs with at least 453 snaps on the season.

The Oklahoma Sooners will return [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag], and [autotag]Daeh McCullough[/autotag] at safety for 2024. There’s still a highly-anticipated decision coming from [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] about his future. Even if Bowman returns, the Sooners could use another difference maker in the secondary with [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] (expected to go to the NFL), [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] (transfer), and [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] (eligibility) out the door.

Mukuba is a do-it-all player who is good in every aspect that’s needed to play the safety position. He’s excellent in coverage and a sure tackler. His experience would help further solidify the Sooners’ safety position and provide more versatility on the back end.

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