College football has become accustomed to players entering the transfer portal. According to SportSource Analytics, over 2,000 players have entered the transfer portal this season, including nine from Clemson.
Out of the nine Clemson players in the portal, seven have already committed and signed with new teams. Three of the players have reunited with a former Clemson coach.
Here are the nine Clemson players who have entered the portal and an update on each of them.
Ajou Ajou, wide receiver
After entering the transfer portal on Dec. 11, the Canadian native only needed four days to find his new home: the University of South Florida. Ajou will be rejoining his former wide receiver coach, Jeff Scott, at USF. Scott is entering his third season as the Bulls’ head coach.
While at Clemson, Ajou had eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Ajou’s incredible size at 6’4” and jumping ability makes him an intriguing prospect who can develop into a dominant wide receiver for coach Scott.
”Here’s what I love about him. He’s playing full speed. He’s not hesitating. He loves [to be] coached and loves to compete and he’s a unique guy,” said head coach Dabo Swinney about Ajou in April.
Ajou will instantly compete for playing time in South Florida due to the thin and young depth on the receiving chart outside of junior wide receiver Xavier Weaver.
Joseph Charleston, safety
Outside of starting the final six games of his sophomore season, Charleston has had a relatively quiet Clemson career. He is a former four-star safety who was ranked as the 149th best player in the class of 2019 according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
Charleston entered the transfer portal following the Syracuse game in October, when he did not play due to an injury.
“He came to me last week, and he said that he feels like he wants a fresh start somewhere,” said Swinney the day after Charleston entered the portal. “I love Joseph. I think he’s a really good player, like a really good player.”
Lyn-J Dixon, running back
Dixon is a former four-star recruit from Butler, Ga. He ran for 1,420 yards and 13 touchdowns at Clemson while averaging 6.5 yards per attempt.
Despite Dixon being the heir apparent to Etienne, things never worked out for the former Tiger during the 2021 season as he only had 10 carries in three games.
Swinney also alluded to some tension between the running back and running backs coach C.J. Spiller back when Dixon was on the team. That tension is likely what contributed to Dixon being buried in the depth chart.
Dixon entered the transfer portal on Sept. 21 and had numerous offers, including Miami (FL) and Oklahoma State. On Nov. 25, Dixon committed to West Virginia, where he will have plenty of opportunities to play since its leading rusher, Leddie Brown, is leaving for the NFL Draft.
Michel Dukes, running back/wide receiver
Another running back who had a hard time working himself up the depth chart was Michel Dukes. Dukes is a former three-star running back from Charleston, South Carolina, who has a good first cut and vision.
After being in the transfer portal since the middle of October, Dukes committed to the University of South Florida, joining Ajou Ajou and his former offensive coordinator, Jeff Scott.
According to Dukes’ Twitter, it seems like he may be making a transition to wide receiver for the Bulls.
Like Ajou, if Dukes can put together a solid off-season, he can easily work his way up the receiver depth chart.
Frank Ladson Jr., wide receiver
The other receiver to enter the transfer portal was Frank Ladson Jr. After being one of the biggest names in the 2019 Clemson recruiting class, Ladson Jr. has fallen flat of expectations.
Ladson Jr. had his season cut short this year due to a season-ending groin surgery that prevented him from moving up the depth chart.
The former four-star and top 40 recruit, according to 247 Sports, only had 31 catches for 428 yards and six touchdowns in his three seasons at Clemson.
According to 247 Sports, Ladson Jr. has been “crystal balled” to the University of Miami (FL). Ladson Jr. is from Miami, Florida, and he attended South Dade High School, so this would be a logical decision for the vertical threat receiver.
Kane Patterson, linebacker
Another former four-star in the 2019 recruiting class is linebacker Kane Patterson. At Clemson, Patterson had 31 total tackles, a sack and an interception. Patterson provided solid depth, but like many other Clemson players in the portal, he could not move up the depth chart like he wanted to.
Patterson, a Nashville, Tenn. native, announced his commitment to Vanderbilt on Dec. 17. Patterson will be playing alongside his brother, Langston Patterson, who signed with the Commodores as a three-star linebacker in the 2022 recruiting class.
In May, head coach Swinney spoke highly of Patterson, saying, “He played some as a freshman simply because of his promise and his football IQ, his toughness and how quick he kind of picked things up.”
Patterson could be a day one starter at Vanderbilt next season. They will lose three senior linebackers after the 2021 football season, including Michael Owusu, who had 43 tackles and two passes deflected.
Taisun Phommachanh, quarterback
Phommachanh has been a bonafide backup quarterback for his entire Clemson career behind Trevor Lawrence and DJ Uiagalelei.
In his limited playing time this season, Phommachanh was primarily used to present a different look to the defense due to his dual-threat ability.
While at Clemson, Phommachanh passed for 204 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He also ran for 150 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries.
The Bridgeport, Connecticut native has not committed anywhere since entering the portal.
Paul Tchio, offensive lineman
High school football teammate of Joseph Charleston, Tchio, the Alpharetta, Georgia native, will return to his home state to play for Georgia Tech.
Tchio was a highly sought-after offensive guard in the 2020 recruiting class, and he was ranked as the third-best offensive guard in his class according to 247 Sports.
He only started one game for the Tigers, and it was against North Carolina State in 2021.
Tchio will help anchor Georgia Tech’s offensive line as he is one of the highest-ranked offensive linemen to go to Georgia Tech during head coach Geoff Collins’ tenure.
Ray Thornton, safety
Last but not least is safety Ray Thornton. Thornton rounds out the trifecta of former Clemson players signing with the University of South Florida during this transfer cycle.
As a 2019 recruit, Thornton possessed offers from 15 teams, including Indiana and Ole Miss.
Thornton is a hard-hitting safety who can deliver big hits on-demand. Thornton could sneak his way into the starting lineup with a good off-season like his fellow South Florida commits from Clemson.
He had 21 tackles and a pass deflection in his three seasons at Clemson. He redshirted during 2019.
With these players leaving, Clemson will need to reload on talent throughout its recruitment class and the transfer portal. The nine players who have entered the portal hope a fresh start will allow them to jumpstart their career.
