The Spring portal triggered some serious inflow and outflow of talent. Just like the big SEC and Big 12 competitors, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are turning heads with their high-flying recruiting efforts. Some of the new faces of the 2025 roster are highly expected to elevate the program to a whole new level, and the hope of a better season around the Tigers’ program is palpable. One such name is Jeremiah Alexander, who recently jumped ship from the Alabama Crimson Tide following a three-year stint. But surprisingly, there is no hard feeling between Alabama and Alexander.

It seems the Tigers were patiently waiting for their long-time target to get on the portal, and as soon as he did, Swinney took no time to strike the rod and made him a seal. Even before Alexander came to Tuscaloosa back in 2021, the Tigers had their eyes on him. Alexander has had limited opportunities to get into the lineup throughout his college career. In three seasons at Alabama, he has only appeared in eight total games. In those games, he could only manage to rack up eight total tackles, including two solo efforts. He split time as an outside and inside linebacker. But Alabama remains a pivot in his career and heart and for a reason.

During a post-departure press meet, the veteran LB told Clemson athletic communications, ”The time at Alabama, I wouldn’t trade it for nothing. I feel like it made me the man that I am today,” Alexander said. “But just being able to have the opportunity to come (to Clemson through the portal), Coach Swinney doesn’t take a lot of guys out of the portal. We brought in three this year. So just having that opportunity and that connect with Peter Woods made it a lot easier and more efficient.” After hitting the portal, Alexander received a FaceTime call from his former teammate, Peter Woods, and took a moment to relive all the memories and connections they had together during their days at Thompson. They used to be best friends off the field.

So the idea of reuniting with a best friend appealed to the 6’2 like no other. Moreover, Woods conveyed to him about the Clemson style and ethics, and Alexander felt he could be a perfect fit for the locker room and make some great contributions. But don’t even think he’s the biggest recruiting prize of the Clemson head coach, proceeding to a post-ACC championship year.

Alexander is just one of a handful of transfers that the Tigers signed this offseason, along with former Purdue defensive end Will Heldt, former Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tristan Smith, 2026 safety Kaden Gebhardt, etc. Swinney managed to bag seven big commitments just within a week. Is it time for Paul Finebaum to withdraw his scathing remarks on the Tigers’ head coach?

It’s time to give a second thought on the infamous Dabo Swinney reproval 

New defensive coordinator Tom Allen is heating up the recruitment battle for the Tigers and making it a real threat to the rivals. The latest transfer, Gebhardt, is a product of Allen’s relentless pursuit. Tom Allen was one of the first to heavily eye Gebhardt when he was at Penn State. Safety coach Mickey Conn also had a big impact on him. It seems the ‘lack of effort in the transfer portal’ criticism should take a backseat now as Coach Swinney is delivering.

The renowned college football analyst blasts Dabo Swinney for being a zero in the portal. The ESPN personality has been a steady hater of the Tigers’ head coach. During the early 2024 season, after a gut-wrenching loss to Georgia, Paul Finebaum was visibly out for the blood.

He outright blamed the head coach for the loss saying, “can say he’s doing the right thing, but clearly, he has screwed up badly, refusing to go to portal.” Finebaum wasn’t totally wrong, though. Swinney’s portal strategy has been a common hate narrative among the fans. They were, after all, one of the four FBS schools to not add a transfer last season. But 2025 smells different in its own right. We will see how things pan out for coach Swinney and Jeremiah Alexander going forward.