The retooling of the Clemson defensive line has begun.

The Tigers have landed transfer defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly from the portal after his campus visit. Kelly arrived on Monday and stayed through Tuesday. Kelly was scheduled to visit Kentucky on Wednesday, but that trip will not happen.

With Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart off to the NFL and Stephiylan Green and Caden Story transferring out, Clemson certainly needed to add some talent to its defensive line. Landing Kelly does just that.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman spent the first two seasons of his college career at West Georgia, a former D2 program that has since transitioned to the FCS.

After redshirting in 2024, Kelly broke out this season, notching 17 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks and one fumble recovery.

Kelly was an unranked prospect coming out of Casrver High School (GA), despite a stellar senior season that saw him rack up 70 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and one interception.

This is the sixth portal commitment for the Tigers, with all of them coming on the defensive side of the ball.

Kelly has multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright