There have been many two-sport athletes at Clemson over the years: Will Taylor and D.J. Reader in recent memory, and legends like Banks McFadden and Ray Williams from decades past.
Recently, talks have circled around forward Ian Schieffelin’s career over the last three seasons thanks to his moniker as a “utility” or “glue guy” player on the men’s basketball team. Football head coach Dabo Swinney had some banter following the senior talking about his days playing on the gridiron.
Schieffelin wasn’t a high school standout, as he stuck to playing basketball for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, but he was the quarterback of his middle school team and caught some eyes.
When asked for a pro comparison, it’s no surprise that Schieffelin chose longtime Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
“I was like the one kid that could throw the ball, just far,” Schieffelin said at ACC Tipoff. “It wasn’t what I desired or what I loved, but I could just throw the ball far.”
The Loganville native “didn’t make many reads” and just liked to “throw it deep,” but the team was able to attend Swinney’s annual camp in eighth and ninth grade due to a connection with now-safety coach Mickey Conn, who coached at Grayson before getting the call up to Death Valley.
The 2024 ACC Most Improved Player recalled how his team also won “Swinney Ball” one year, Swinney’s annual seven-on-seven tournament at the end of the camp.
While trying out his talents at the tight end position, Schieffelin had quite a partner in the backfield: running back Phil Mafah.
“I actually played with Phil growing up,” he said. “So we actually had one of the best eighth grade teams in probably the entire country.”
Like many dual-sport athletes, there came a time when Schieffelin had to choose a sport. He followed his heart and took to the hardwood, marking the end of his quarterback days.
“My heart was in basketball more than it was football,” he said. “I always enjoyed the football games and the atmosphere, but practice-wise, I wasn’t enjoying all the being outside and doing all that stuff. Just basketball has always been where my heart is.”
Now standing at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, coach Swinney has left that door open should Schieffelin’s passion for the pigskin return.
“Son, there’s always a spot for you,” Swinney told him.
Schieffelin said — jokingly — that he could join the likes of Jake Bringinstool in the tight end room, which would make for one tall duo with a 6-foot-6 Briningstool.
“I could play some tight end,” he said. “I have some pretty good hands, so I think I’d be alright.”
Meanwhile, Swinney sees something different for the senior and considers putting him with Matt Luke and the offensive line. He was quick to negate that, however, believing that Schieffelin would put himself at tight end or defensive end, which Swinney calls a “sexy” position.
“He’d be an unbelievable left tackle, but he wouldn’t want to play that,” Swinney said. “He’d want to be in one of those sexy positions.”
While it is all wishful thinking, Swinney knows that the senior’s greatest success would be on the court, where Schieffelin played a key role in Clemson reaching the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the best finish to a men’s basketball season since 1980.
Swinney also banters that he doesn’t want to upset basketball head coach Brad Brownell in the process.
“I don’t need a text from Brad, he needs to focus on what he’s doing,” he said. “We have a lot of basketball games to win this year, and I’m excited to see him lead the charge.”
Schieffelin agrees. “Those cleats are long hung up,” he said.
Clemson basketball opens up its season on Nov. 4 at Littlejohn Coliseum against Charleston Southern, and Schieffelin may have one extra special fan rooting for him at home throughout this season, which is expected to be his final season with the team.
One thing is for certain in Swinney’s eyes though — if there’s ever a world where one of Clemson basketball’s standout players joins the roster, Swinney is ready.
