Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
It’s all bad in Tigers Country right now, but former Clemson star Travis Etienne has an idea of how his alma mater can get back to the top of college football.
“It starts by using the [transfer] portal,” the Jaguars running back told Kevin Clark. “[Dabo Swinney] wasn’t using the portal last year and I feel like he sees this year how much the portal can help a team and I feel like he’s gonna use the portal and get the team back on track.”
I asked Travis Etienne how Clemson and Dabo Swinney can get back to the top of college football. He told me: “It starts with using the portal.” pic.twitter.com/bEtmqjiw5Y
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 2, 2023
When asked if he really believes Clemson’s program will “modernize” under Swinney, Etienne was confident that it would.
“Most definitely,” he said. “I feel like in order to continue to be a championship caliber team you have to continue to evolve and grow with the game.
To this point Dabo has been in opposition of NIL and utilizing the transfer portal. Telling reporters at last year’s early signing day, “We built this program on NIL … We really did. We built this program in God’s name, image, and likeness.”
The Tigers went 8-4 in the regular season; their lowest win total since Swinney’s second year in Death Valley. Prior to 2023, Clemson had reeled off 12 consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins with two national championships.