The Clemson football program brought in a solid transfer class during the winter window, which lasted from Dec. 9 to Dec. 28. Though the portal is closed, graduate transfers can enter any time, and players already in the portal can still visit and be recruited by schools.
Head coach Dabo Swinney and his staff brought in 14 transfers from the portal, including 2 quarterbacks: former Stanford QB Ashton Daniels and former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. The pair were set to join incoming freshman Deuce Knight and redshirt freshman Walker White in the QB room after Payton Thorne ran out of eligibility and both Holden Geriner and Hank Brown hit the portal.
Then, White announced his decision to transfer in a surprising move. Swinney has emphasized that the Tigers will always have four scholarship QBs on the roster, and White’s departure left an open spot. Many believed Clemson football would look to take another QB in the next portal window in the spring, but it looks like the program has already found their guy.
Former South Carolina quarterback Tanner Bailey has announced that, after retiring from football in January 2024, he will return to the game and play for the Tigers. Following his retirement, the Alabama native moved back to his home state and enrolled at Clemson to finish school. He graduated in December and will pursue another degree while playing football.
“I’m pumped,” Bailey said, per Clemson Insider. “Clemson has always been my dream school. If you asked 5-year old Tanner ‘what’s your dream?’ It would be to play quarterback for Clemson. I’m ecstatic. I’m getting to play in the hometown with my dad (Lance Bailey) playing there. I’m just excited and pumped to get over there and get to work.”