CLEMSON — The college football transfer portal opened Jan. 2, and the Clemson Tigers are making roster changes for the 2026 season.
Clemson (7-6) finished its second-worst season under coach Dabo Swinney after entering 2025 as ACC favorites and a College Football Playoff contender but started the year 1-3, including two conference losses, to derail those hopes.
Clemson returned the most production of any FBS or FCS program but won’t have many of those players in 2026. The Tigers will be without quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receiver Antonio Williams, cornerback Avieon Terrell, linebacker Wade Woodaz, edge rusher T.J. Parker, defensive tackles Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart and offensive tackles Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh.
With Clemson entering a pivotal 2026, here are all the players who are leaving and joining the Tigers via the transfer portal before it closes on Jan. 16.
Clemson football transfer portal additions for 2026 roster
London Merritt, Colorado DL
Merritt, the No. 36 edge rusher in the portal, is transferring to Clemson, per CBS Sports. He logged 25 tackles, including eight for loss and one sack, in 12 games this season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Markus Strong, Oklahoma DT
Strong announced he is transferring to Clemson on Jan. 7. He recorded 11 tackles, including one sack, in 11 games for the Sooners in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Kourtney Kelly, West Georgia DT
Kelly, the No. 94 defensive lineman in the portal, transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7. after visiting on Jan. 5. He recorded 10 tackles and one fumble recovery in seven games in 2025. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Corey Myrick, Southern Miss S
Myrick, the No. 97 safety in the portal, transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7. He logged 92 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a forced fumble in 13 games this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Donovan Starr, Auburn CB
Starr transferred to Clemson on Jan. 6. He played in nine games on special teams and defense this season, but he is the No. 25 cornerback in the portal, per 247Sports, and a former four-star recruit out of high school who was rated as the No. 3 player in Tennessee and No. 199 nationally in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Jerome Carter, Old Dominion S
Carter transferred to Clemson on Jan. 6 after visiting on Jan. 5. He recorded 75 tackles and six interceptions (tied second in FBS) in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Luke Ferrelli, Cal LB
The reigning ACC defensive rookie of the year transferred to Clemson on Jan. 6. He led all freshmen and redshirt freshmen in tackles (87) and finished second among all ACC freshmen in tackles for loss (five). He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Elliot Washington, Penn State CB
Washington transferred to Clemson on Jan. 5. He posted on Instagram that he was at Clemson for a visit on Jan. 4. He recorded 18 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections this season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Caden Story, DE
Clemson defensive Caden Story entered the portal when it opened. He spent four seasons with Clemson, logging 10 tackles over 24 games and zero starts. He has one year of eligibility remaining. CBS Sports reported Story withdrew his name from the portal on Jan. 10.
Clemson football transfer portal losses for 2026 roster
Rowan Byrne, OL
Byrne entered the portal. He played two snaps in one game as he redshirted in his freshman season. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: North Carolina
Ricardo Jones, S
Jones announced he is entering the portal on Jan. 3. He became a starter in his second season, recording 39 tackles, a conference-high six interceptions and nine pass deflections in 13 games and 12 starts this season to earn third-team All-ACC honors. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Stephiylan Green, DT
Green entered the transfer portal when it opened on Jan. 2. He became a starter in his third season with the Tigers, recording 18 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and one pass deflection in 10 games and six starts in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: LSU
Markus Dixon, DE
Dixon announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 1. He spent three seasons with Clemson (two at tight end and one at defensive end), recording 34 offensive snaps in 2023 and 2024 and 13 defensive snaps in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Josh Sapp, TE
Sapp entered the portal when it opened on Jan. 2. He spent four seasons with Clemson, recording 24 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns in 41 games and two starts. He has one year of eligibility remaining after recorded a career-high 11 catches for 150 yards in 2025.
Destination: TBD
Michael Manaka, CB
Manaka walked on to Clemson in 2022 but was a part of the team’s 105-man roster. He transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback in 2024. He has appeared in 11 games over four years, recording one tackle. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Rob Billings, S
Billings will enter the portal. He spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 32 games and no starts to record seven tackles. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Jamal Anderson, LB
Anderson will enter the transfer portal. He spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 31 games and two starts to record 16 tackles and one sack. He took a midseason redshirt in 2025, playing in four games. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Khalil Barnes, S
Barnes announced on Dec. 9 that he will enter the transfer portal. He spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 37 games and 30 starts to record 139 tackles, three forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections and seven interceptions. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Georgia
Keith Adams Jr., RB
Adams will enter the transfer portal. He spent four seasons with Clemson, playing in 32 games and zero starts to record 274 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 58 carries. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Dee Crayton, LB
Crayton will enter the transfer portal. He spent three seasons with Clemson, playing in 30 games and zero starts to record 29 tackles. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Shelton Lewis, CB
Lewis informed Clemson on Oct. 2 that he will use this year as a four-game redshirt season to enter transfer portal. He spent three seasons with the Tigers and appeared in four games in 2025 to record seven tackles and one pass deflection. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: Arkansas
Marquise Henderson, ATH
Henderson announced June 21 on social media that he had entered the transfer portal. Two days before, Clemson announced Henderson has been dismissed from the team. Henderson never played a snap at Clemson after signing in December 2024. He earning All-Upstate honors as a running back at Belton-Honea Path.
Destination: Samford
