Clemson dipped into the transfer portal this offseason and added four defensive backs, including two at the safety position – Corey Myrick from Southern Miss and Jerome Carter from Old Dominion.

Myrick and Carter both joined the latest episode of Clemson Football’s official podcast, 2 Right Turns, as did new safeties coach Nolan Turner.

Both players have two seasons of eligibility remaining, and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said last month that the staff hit on their top safety targets in Myrick and Carter.

Turner discussed the transfer recruiting process, the additions of Myrick and Carter, and why the Tigers wanted to pursue them during the transfer portal window (Jan. 2-16).

“Obviously, this portal is like speed dating. This thing opens up really quick,” Turner said.
“You’ve got a list of guys who you’ve evaluated, who had already entered the portal, and you start making phone calls and try to get the guys that are the right fit here. And you’re talking to a lot of different people – you’re talking to former coaches, high school coaches, people who have spent time around these guys, and really doing your due diligence.

“And we just felt like these dudes were competitors, obviously had been super productive at former places, and played a lot of ball, which was important. And we just really found the right fit and we got these guys here and got them around the coaches and the staff, and just saw that they really fit Clemson as much as we fit them.”

Myrick (87.3) is the highest-graded transfer safety in all of college football, per Pro Football Focus, which also ranks Carter (76.3) as the eighth highest-graded transfer safety.

Myrick played his first college season at Marshall in 2024 and then his second at Southern Miss in 2025. He arrived at Clemson credited with 95 tackles (4.5 for loss), four pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 21 games (12 starts). As a sophomore, he posted 92 tackles — third-most on Southern Miss’ squad — with 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 13 games (12 starts). According to PFF, Myrick allowed only one touchdown in 384 coverage snaps last season, with a 53.7 passer rating allowed and a coverage grade of 86.2.

Meanwhile, Carter played 25 games and made 12 starts in his first two college campaigns at Old Dominion from 2024-25, tallying 98 tackles (2.5 for loss), six interceptions and three pass breakups over those two seasons. He earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors as a sophomore last season when he started 12 of 13 games and collected 75 tackles (2.5 for loss), a school-record six interceptions and two pass breakups. His six interceptions tied Clemson’s Ricardo Jones (who is now headed to play for Vanderbilt) and others for second-most in the FBS.

Turner is entering his third full season on Clemson’s support staff and his first as the team’s safeties coach in 2026.

Turner was a standout safety at Clemson from 2016-21, amassing 259 tackles (13.5 for loss), 20 pass breakups, seven interceptions, three sacks and two forced fumbles over 65 career games, including 25 starts. The 2020 All-American was part of five ACC title squads, five College Football Playoff berths, three national title game appearances and two national championships during his playing career.

Carter and Myrick both said that Turner played a big part in the process of recruiting them to Clemson. They know there’s a lot they can learn from his wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to playing the safety position.

“He played a major role,” Carter said. “Just having a coach that’s got experience and that played the game, that’s who you want to be coached by because he understands the situation that you will be in and you know you can go and talk to him.”

Added Myrick: “Just having a coach that played — been in our shoes here actually – so just learning from everything. He knows this building inside and out, so just being able to play under him and then learn everything he knows.”