Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is really pleased with what he’s seen early in spring practice from the Tigers’ cornerback room.

“So far, so good with that group,” Swinney said following Wednesday’s practice. “Very encouraged with them.”

Among the new additions to Clemson’s corner room is Elliot Washington II, and Swinney had plenty of praise for the Penn State transfer who joined the Tigers in January with one remaining year of eligibility.

Spending his first three seasons at Penn State, Washington played under former Nittany Lions and current Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen in 2024. As a junior last season, he appeared in 12 games, totaling 18 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups.

Overall, in his three seasons at Penn State, Washington collected 53 tackles (1.5 for loss), two interceptions, nine pass breakups and a 35-yard blocked field goal return for touchdown over 36 games (one start).

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of Venice (Fla.) High School. He was touted as the No. 54 overall prospect in the country for his recruiting class by ESPN.

“Tough. Fast. Fiery. He’s got a lot of charisma to him. I like his swagger, if you will. He’s going to help us, for sure. We’ve got one year [with him], and we needed speed,” Swinney said of Washington.

“Just a big, strong, long corner,” Swinney added.

Along with Washington, Clemson added Auburn transfer cornerback Donovan Starr this offseason, while also signing a pair of corners – three-stars Shavar Young Jr. and Marcell Gipson Jr. – in the 2026 recruiting class.

Those additions join a Clemson cornerback room that also includes guys like junior Ashton Hampton, redshirt juniors Branden Strozier and Misun Kelley, and redshirt sophomore Corian Gipson.

“I’m very encouraged with our corner position as a whole,” Swinney said.

“Wholistically, the room, we’ve just got more guys that can play the position, and also play our Tiger position. And that’s kind of what we wanted to do was recruit more corner and build more depth at the Tiger position and the corner spot.”