Report: Clemson a team to watch for elite transfer running back

Clemson has yet to land a player out of the transfer portal in this cycle. Could they make a splash with their first signing?

In the Transfer Portal era, Clemson is one of the few teams in the Power 5 to make a splash, landing a top talent. For the most part, that's due to head coach Dabo Swinney's style of team building. Opting to keep and develop the players he's recruited vs looking for talent on other teams' rosters.

That doesn't mean the Tigers haven't, on occasion, tried to snag someone out of the portal. There are reports that Clemson is going after former Alabama offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin. Now, per new reports, Clemson may also be in the hunt for an elite SEC running back.

Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins / University of Mississippi Athletics

Per Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports, Clemson could be in play to land Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, who announced his entry into the transfer portal earlier this week. 

Schools to keep an eye on re: Quinshon Judkins: Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Miami

— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) January 4, 2024

With the news of Will Shipley's departure to the NFL, landing Judkins would be massive. Shipley was a star for the Tigers both on and off the field, but Judkins is just different.

In 2022 he was named the SEC's Freshman of the Year and named to the All-SEC team after rushing for 1,567 yards (120.5 ypg) and scoring 13 touchdowns. He finished this season with 1,158 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, helping Ole Miss to their first 11-win season in program history.

While his motivations for transferring aren't clear, what could Clemson offer that the other teams can't? If it's about getting closer to home, Auburn is the place, as Judkins grew up 90 minutes from the school. If it's about NIL money, it's hard to beat Alabama and Miami is throwing around all kinds of cash. NFL prep? Again, Alabama is hard to beat. But if it's about culture and chasing a championship, Clemson can certainly offer that. 

Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley could be extremely creative with a back like Judkins and a pairing with a guy like Phil Mafah could keep some of the wear off of Judkins' legs in presumably his final season before heading to the NFL. 

It'd be a surprise landing, to be sure. But if Dabo was ever going to get started in the portal, this would be a heck of an entrance.