Tag: Toriano Pride Jr.

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.

Clemson football 2023 transfer portal tracker

Here is a transfer tracker to track who is leaving and who is joining the program.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers finished the regular season with an 8-4 (4-4 ACC) record, performing well but also below expectations as the offense failed to keep up with the high level of play from the defense.

We head into the conference championship and bowl season with the regular season over. However, it is more than just that, as it is also the beginning of transfer portal season. All across the country, players are entering their names in the transfer portal as they look for new opportunities at different programs. Clemson is no different than others, as multiple Tigers have entered their name into the portal as their time with the program has come to an end.

To keep you updated, below is our transfer portal tracker with every Tiger who has entered the portal so far. We will update accordingly as more news continues.

Updated 12/11

Clemson cornerback transfer announces new school

Toriano Pride Jr. has announced the school where he will continue his college football career.

A former Tiger and former hot name in the transfer portal has announced where he will continue his college football career.

Former Clemson cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. announced via social media Wednesday night that he has committed to play for Missouri. His time with the Tigers has come to an end.

Pride started one game for Clemson this season but played in all 12. He recorded 14 tackles (one for loss) and five pass breakups in 145 snaps this season.

The sophomore cornerback was one of the top names in the transfer portal, and it’s another team of Tigers that has snagged his commitment. We’ll have to wait to see if the grass is greener for Pride with his new team.

Clemson cornerback transfer announces new school

Toriano Pride Jr. has announced the school where he will continue his college football career.

A former Tiger and former hot name in the transfer portal has announced where he will continue his college football career.

Former Clemson cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. announced via social media Wednesday night that he has committed to play for Missouri. His time with the Tigers has come to an end.

Pride started one game for Clemson this season but played in all 12. He recorded 14 tackles (one for loss) and five pass breakups in 145 snaps this season.

The sophomore cornerback was one of the top names in the transfer portal, and it’s another team of Tigers that has snagged his commitment. We’ll have to wait to see if the grass is greener for Pride with his new team.

Clemson cornerback on why he entered the transfer portal

Toriano Pride Jr. on why he decided to enter the transfer portal.

Clemson cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. took to X last Thursday evening to announce his intent to enter the portal and seek a new team after spending the last two seasons as a Tiger.

A surprise for fans, Pride has a high ceiling and was a player many were excited to see down the line for the Tigers. The sophomore cornerback is now one of the top names in the transfer portal and should find himself at another top program in college football.

Following his decision, Pride shared some of the reasons he decided to enter the portal, with opportunity being the key.

“In high school, I was recruited heavily by Brent Venables that’s at Oklahoma,” Pride said. “I just talked to him every single day. Parents, my mom. And when my mom likes you, it’s a big deal. So we just built that up, and then when I got there, he had the home visit with us right before he left to Oklahoma, and then he ended up leaving.”

“And I still wanted to put my trust in the staff, and it was just different building a bond with them and the person that was recruiting me. Instead of going to the school, building it right then and there. Instead of building it over time like me and Brent Venables did.”

“It’s really just one word, in bold letters: Opportunity. Really. That’s all. To fulfill my dreams, I just need the opportunity.”

There is no recent news on Pride, but offers have definitely come as he is considered one of the top, if not the top player in the portal at his position.

Clemson cornerback enters transfer portal

A fifth Clemson player has thrown his name in the transfer portal.

Another Clemson player has entered the transfer portal.

Clemson cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. took to X on Thursday evening to announce his intent to enter the portal and seek a new team after spending the last two seasons as a Tiger.

Pride struggled to see the field this season and finished the year with 14 total tackles and four passes defended. As a true freshman in 2022, Pride had 22 total tackles, one interception and four passes defended.

The former four-star recruit will have two years of eligibility remaining. He joins wide receiver Beaux Collins, tight end Sage Ennis, offensive lineman Mitchell Mayes and quarterback Hunter Helms as Tigers who have thrown their names into the portal.

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Clemson’s Defensive Player of the Game from their 17-12 win over Wake Forest

This Clemson cornerback looked like a standout as he stepped up in the Tigers’ 17-12 win over Wake Forest.

Wes Goodwin and the Clemson defense looked excellent in the Tigers’ 17-12 win over Wake Forest, with a sophomore cornerback stepping up and having a huge performance as the Tigers were without their top CB Nate Wiggins.

Our Defensive Player of the Game from the Tigers win is sophomore cornerback Toriano Pride Jr., who looked like one of the best players on the field Saturday. When your secondary is missing their top player, someone is going to have to step up. This week, it was Pride who answered the call. 

The young quarterback was active throughout the game and was tested by Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis multiple times. Pride was not phased, recording a team-high three pass breakups while adding seven tackles and a tackle for loss. 

This may have been the best game of Pride’s young career with the Tiger.

‘The trend is definitely upward’ for Clemson’s corners

Clemson’s defensive performance, or lack thereof against Wake Forest, seems like forever ago. After its cornerbacks were exploited by Sam Hartman and the Demon Deacons’ passing attack, Clemson went back to the drawing board. The Tigers’ cornerbacks, …

Clemson’s defensive performance, or lack thereof against Wake Forest, seems like forever ago.

After its cornerbacks were exploited by Sam Hartman and the Demon Deacons’ passing attack, Clemson went back to the drawing board. The Tigers’ cornerbacks, particularly younger ones like Nate Wiggins and Toriano Pride, Jr., have turned a new leaf and are trending upward. 

That’s been readily apparent in Clemson’s wins over NC State and Boston College.

During his media availability Monday, defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin was asked how his corners graded out during the wake-up call that was the Wake Forest game and how they’ve fared since then.

“I don’t remember numerically, but I’m imagining it wouldn’t be very high,” Goodwin said. “The trend is definitely upward for those guys. They’ve had a great two weeks. Learning how to prepare. Learning how to practice. Young guys coming in, you have to teach them everything, how to study film, what they’re looking for on the screen.”

Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed echoed those sentiments Monday.

“Guys are more detailed in their work, putting in even more extra time in the film room and study sessions, asking more questions,” Reed said. “A lot of times what you have with a lot of young kids is sometimes they’re afraid to ask that question because they don’t want to be seen as the guy that doesn’t know what’s going on.

“As much as you always tell them that there’s no stupid questions, just ask the question, some kids are really gun shy when it comes to that. I have a couple of kids that they don’t hold back anymore. They ask the question because they want to know. They don’t want to be out there second-guessing anything. They want to be able to play free.” 

“It’s just been a huge learning process for everyone involved,” Goodwin added. “Definitely the trend’s going upward and couldn’t be more excited. Their hard work definitely showed up on Saturday night.”

That it did. 

Clemson held Boston College to just 3-points, in part because of the play of its cornerbacks. The Tigers allowed Phil Jurkovec to complete just 48% of his passes (19-of-40), as the Eagles’ senior quarterback threw for just 188 yards on the night.

Outside of a 35-yard connection between Jurkovec and Zay Flowers late in the first quarter, Clemson’s patchwork secondary kept everything in front for the most part. There were even some timely pass breakups, including one by Wiggins in the end zone.

Minus that one explosive play, Clemson’s corners limited Flowers to just seven receptions for 40 yards.

The past two games have been an encouraging trend for a position group that looked so lost just two weeks ago. Clemson will need that upward trajectory in its secondary to continue this weekend against Jordan Travis and Florida State.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

‘My best opportunity was here’: Freshman corner never wavered after coordinator change

When news of Brent Venables’ departure for Oklahoma broke back in December, it wasn’t long after that Clemson saw an expected wave of decommitments that comes with a coordinator change. One by one, the IMG Academy trio of Keon Sabb, Jihaad Campbell …

When news of Brent Venables’ departure for Oklahoma broke back in December, it wasn’t long after that Clemson saw an expected wave of decommitments that comes with a coordinator change.

One by one, the IMG Academy trio of Keon Sabb, Jihaad Campbell and Daylen Everette, elected to pursue opportunities elsewhere. As well as Jaren Kanak, who chose to follow Venables to Norman.

And while there were rumors that Torinao Pride, Jr. could soon follow and also walk back his commitment ahead of the early signing period, that was never going to happen.

“I don’t know why those rumors got out or anything,” Pride recently told The Clemson Insider during an NIL collective appearance in Clemson Sunday. “I think they got out because I was so close with the IMG guys. I was supposed to room with Jihaad. Daylen, that was another close friend — he was a corner.

“I think the rumors got out just because I was close with them, but my best opportunity was here. My main goal, I’m not going to college for friendships. I’m going to play on the field because I got a goal at the end of the day.” 

Don’t get Pride wrong, he’s made plenty of friends in the class of 2022, but he didn’t choose Clemson because of the friendships he could make. He chose Dabo Swinney’s program because he knew it gave him the best opportunity to get on the field as soon as possible.

“I just want to get on the field,” he added.

Pride said that he’s still close with each Sabb, Campbell and Everette. During our conversation, he indicated that he could call all three of them at that very moment and they would answer.

Those relationships are still there, but that hasn’t deterred him from making new ones in what will be his home for the next 3-4 years.

“I feel like I met a lot of brothers,” Pride said. “A lot of long friendships here. I could be grown with kids and I could still hit up some of these guys over here and they could do the same with me.”