Neff Comments on Swinney's Portal Philosophy

Over the past couple of years, Dabo Swinney’s philosophy on the transfer portal has been a hot-button topic.

While some in the national media think Swinney’s reluctance to fully embrace the portal will ultimately land him in hot water with the administration at the school, Athletic Director Graham Neff insists nothing could be further from the truth and that he is fully on board with his head coach choosing to run a developmental program.

“Couldn’t be more convicted and supportive of coach Swinney; two-time national champion head coach and how he has built his current program and where he’s at,” Neff said on Wednesday. “Let alone where his strategies and nimbleness quite frankly is ahead.”

The Tigers did pursue multiple offensive linemen over the offseason but failed to land any, making Clemson the only Power-4 program to not add a single player from the portal over the offseason. It’s a strategy that has left some inside the fanbase frustrated, but one Neff fully supports. At the same time, with the sport experiencing so much change and at such a rapid pace, Neff is intent on giving Swinney the support he needs to be successful.

“Yeah we talk about it,” added Neff. “In a supportive way and a understanding vision, strategy and how do we continue to be adaptable in a changing-landscape.”

And that support runs much deeper than how Swinney chooses to manage his roster. Neff fully believes in his head coach and his ability to lead Clemson into the future, whatever that may hold.

“That means roster-management, but that also particularly means a lot of things that  we have talked about,” Neff said. “Absolutely that is active engagement with me and coach but in a very supportive, and equipping him in particular.”

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