Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen met with the media this week ahead of the Tigers’ game at South Carolina on Saturday (12 p.m., SEC Network).

Allen discussed what his transfer portal strategy was at previous coaching stops, including Penn State and Indiana.

Of course, Allen joined Clemson’s staff back in January after most recently serving as Penn State’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 2024. Before that, he spent eight years at Indiana from 2016-23, including seven as head coach from 2017-23.

Allen was asked what his portal strategy has been in the past, and how he thinks it will change or stay the same at Clemson. He says his philosophy is to use the portal as a tool mainly for situations like when a player leaves the team unexpectedly or a recruit decommits.

“I just think, for me, it’s always been a means to be able to address if you’ve got a guy that maybe leaves sooner than you thought he would, or a guy you’re recruiting and he’s not there, and doesn’t come and you think he’s going to come,” Allen said. “So, just to be able to address the needs that are present on your team. And I think that’s where, for me, in the past, that’s what I’ve used it for.”

Allen added that the transfer portal isn’t something he has ever relied on heavily, and he and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney have those conversations.

“I’ve never relied on it heavily, but allowed it to be able to utilize it when you needed it per the situation,” Allen said. “So, that’s my philosophy, and obviously Coach [Swinney] and I have those conversations and everything. It’s allowed us to be able to be in position to improve your roster the best you possibly can.”

There is only one transfer portal window this year for college football, and it opens on Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 16.