Clemson-FAU Preview: Owls led by Transfers

Clemson could face over thirty transfer players over the next couple of weeks, a stretch that could define their season.

Clemson has been in the headlines for the past couple of weeks. The main focus is the program's - mainly head coach Dabo Swinney's - continued fight against the tide of building a team through the Transfer Portal.

Swinney continues to insist that he believes the best way to build and sustain Clemson's success is through recruiting and development versus grabbing new transfers every offseason. “People talk about this portal all the time," said Swinney on his weekly coach's show. "Do I prefer the portal? No. But am I opposed to it? No, absolutely not."

FAU QB Casey Thompson - FAU Athletics 

As Clemson prepares for their upcoming game with FAU (1-1, 0-0 AAC), and next week's monumental clash against No. 3 Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC), the coaching staff will be preparing game tape on a number of transfers that are making big impacts for both teams.

FAU's starting quarterback, Casey Thompson, spent his last few seasons at Nebraska and was at Texas prior to that. Auburn transfer Desmond Tisdol has six tackles on the season for the Owls. In total, FAU brought in 24 transfers over the past two seasons, 20 of which came from Power Five schools.

The Owls are in their first season under former Houston and Texas head coach Tom Herman. Like other first-year coaches around the country, Herman has used the transfer portal to expedite the turnaround at his new school. 

"I do think that we need a couple of pieces in the transfer portal," said Herman after December's early signing period. "Regardless of years left and all of that. We need some immediate help in certain areas. I think you build a culture through high school guys and through guys that have been in your program for three, four, five years. We don't want to be "Transfer U". We do know that we can use the portal and transfers to fill some immediate needs."

Clemson will face those transfers this Saturday in Death Valley (8 p.m. ACCN). They'll also face the 26 transfers Florida State has brought in over the past two seasons next Saturday.