By Johnny Falduto
With Clemson’s 2023 regular season in the books, transfer portal and NFL Draft decision season is in full swing. This article will be updated regularly as Clemson players announce decisions to either enter the transfer portal or declare for the NFL Draft — or return to Clemson, if the NFL was an option.
NFL Draft
1/03: Running back Will Shipley has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced, forgoing his remaining eligibility. The former Freshman All-American was a multi-time All-ACC selection at multiple positions and is one of just ten players in Clemson football history to reach 4,000 career all-purpose yards (2,747 rush yards, 602 receiving yards, 904 kick return yards). Shipley leaves Clemson ranked 7th in program history in rushing TDs and total TDs, 9th in program history in all-purpose yards, and 10th in program history in career kick return yards. He also became the first Clemson football scholarship player to graduate in three years with a 4.0 GPA. Shipley projects as a mid-to-late round NFL Draft pick.
12/04: Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced, forgoing a final season of eligibility. Orhorhoro totaled 88 tackles (25.5 TFL’s) and 12 sacks in 53 games played over his five-year Clemson career, which included All-ACC Third Team honors in 2023. He was a former 3-Star recruit in the class of 2019.
11/29: Cornerback Nate Wiggins has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. Wiggins has been widely regarded as one of the top corners in this coming draft class and is as high as a Top-15 pick in some major mock drafts. He allowed just 18 receptions and held opposing quarterbacks to a 44.4 passer rating when throwing his way this past season. He will not play in Clemson’s bowl game.
11/28: Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. Trotter is a current finalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, and finishes his Clemson career with 192 total tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and four interceptions. Trotter is the No. 2 off-ball linebacker in ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper’s latest Big Board.
Transfer Portal
1/02: Wide receiver Brannon Spector has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, he announced. Spector entered 2023 bowl season with 38 career catches for 372 yards and two touchdowns, and two rushes for 21 yards over 37 career games (six starts).
12/05: Edge rusher David Ojiegbe has entered the transfer portal, he announced. Ojiegbe was a 4-Star recruit in the C/O 2023 and saw action in two games as a true freshman for the Tigers this season.
12/05: Safety Andrew Mukuba has entered the transfer portal, he announced. Mukuba is credited with 149 tackles (4.5 TFL), a sack, 20 PBU’s, two fumble recoveries, and an interception across 35 career appearances (31 starts) for the Tigers. He was a Freshman All-American in 2021 and became the first true freshman defensive back to start season-opener for Clemson since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972. Mukuba was a 4-Star recruit in the ℅ 2021.
12/04: Running back Domonique Thomas has entered the transfer portal, he announced. He joined the program as a walk-on in 2022 but earned a scholarship prior to the start of the season, finishing his Clemson career with 25 carries for 147 YDS and a TD across 16 career appearances. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
12/01: Cornerback Toriano Pride has entered the transfer portal, he announced. Pride was the No. 6 CB and No. 40 overall prospect in the class of 2022, per 247Sports. Pride leaves Clemson credited with 37 tackles (2.0 for loss), nine pass breakups, one sack, one interception, and a safety over 26 appearances, three of which were starts.
11/30: Tight end Sage Ennis has entered the transfer portal, per 247Sports. Ennis played in 41 games over his four-year Clemson career, starting two. He leaves Clemson with 77 YDS on 6 REC. He was a 3-Star recruit in the class of 2020.
11/30: Wide receiver Beaux Collins has entered the transfer portal, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Collins had a career-best 520 YDS and 3 TD on 38 REC in 11 appearances for the Tigers this past season. In 2021, he became one of six freshmen in the Dabo Swinney era to post 30+ REC and 400+ REC YDS. Collins was a former 4-Star recruit in the class of 2021.
11/29: Offensive linemen Mitchell Mayes announced that he is entering the transfer portal after four seasons at Clemson. Mayes appeared in 32 total games over the course of his Clemson career, starting in nine. He is a former 3-Star recruit in the class of 2020 and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
11/28: Quarterback Hunter Helms announced that he is entering the transfer portal after three seasons at Clemson. Helms began his career as a walk-on and completed 23-37 passes for 218 YDS and 2 TD in nine appearances for the Tigers.
Returning to Clemson
12/21: S RJ Mickens will return to Clemson for his final season, he announced. Mickens enters 2024 having recorded 144 tackles (7.5 TFLs), five interceptions, seven pass break-ups, and a fumble recovery over 47 career games (17 starts).
12/07: Linebacker Barrett Carter will return to Clemson for his senior season, he announced. The 2022 All-American and 2023 All-ACC Second Team selection has tallied 166 tackles (20.5 TFL), 8.5 sacks, 12 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles, and two interceptions through 36 career games (25 starts) at Clemson. Carter was widely regarded as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2024 draft class.
Other
OL John Williams retired from football due to medical reasons, Dabo Swinney announced.
