When a school parts ways with an assistant coach, that impact reaches further than the players currently on the roster. It also has an impact on recruits.
Such is the case for Clemson signee Polo Anderson. The four-star in-state safety, who is one of the highest-rated players in the 2026 class, took to social media to express his emotions after Dabo Swinney announced safeties coach Mickey Conn would not return next season.
Conn has been a staple on the defensive staff, joining the Tigers in 2016, before becoming the safeties coach the following year. And in serving in that role, Conn played a prominent role in landing Anderson, who committed to the Tigers back in May, before officially signing earlier in December.
āThat was always my dream school,ā Anderson told TCI in a previous interview. āThey are giving me the opportunity to become a Tiger.ā
Now, when Anderson arrives on campus next month as an early enrollee, he’ll do so with a new position coach in place. While Swinney has yet to announce any plans for replacing Conn, he did reveal he had a plan in place for his staff on that side of the ball.
āI am excited about the plan we have in place for our secondary and our defensive staff,” the head coach said.
Anderson is the only safety Clemson signed in the 2026 class. Rivals ranks the blue-chip talent No. 69 overall, No. 5 among safeties and No. 3 in the state of South Carolina. He was a finalist for Mr. Football in the state.
As a senior, the 6-foot-2 defensive back earned All-State honors after recording 95 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two sacks, an interception that he returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.
During his high school career at Dorman, Anderson was a two-time all-state and three-time all-region pick credited with 265 career tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, five pass breakups and four interceptions. He also blocked four career kicks and scored three career touchdowns.
Photo by Bart Boatwright