CLEMSON – After Clemson’s worst finish in 15 years, it is an understatement to say a personnel revamp was needed entering the 2026 season.

The Tigers finished 11th in the ACC in passing defense, giving up more 50 and 70-yard passing plays than any other conference opponent, they especially needed some help bolstering the secondary.

Head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Tom Allen started this bolstering process last season when they gave Thomas Allen more responsibility when it came to play calling in the secondary. 

This move came after a 46-45 loss to Duke, in which safeties Ricardo Jones and Khalil Barnes consistently missed assignments, resulting in several busted coverages, including one that went for a 77-yard touchdown that helped the Blue Devils beat Clemson for the first time in Death Valley since 1980.

In addition to busted coverages, the Tigers’ secondary also struggled with missed tackles in losses, despite Clemson’s defense improving as a whole in that category last year. 

Clemson finished seventh in the ACC in yards per attempt allowed, and tied for seventh in touchdown passes allowed. The Tigers also finished with just nine interceptions, tied for eighth in the conference. Jones, who tied for second-most picks in the country, had six of those. 

Shortly after the season, defensive passing coordinator and safeties coach Mickey Conn was let go, and was quickly replaced by the younger Allen. Two-time national champion Nolan Turner was promoted to assistant coach, helping with the safeties, while former linebacker Corico Wright returned to Clemson after working as the defensive passing game coordinator at Delaware the last three seasons. Wright will be in charge of the nickel backs.

With new staff in place, and Barnes and Jones in the transfer portal, the next step for Allen was to hit the transfer portal, and to bring in “his guys.”

After bringing in former Penn State cornerback Elliott Washington II, Allen got his guys from a pair of Group of Five programs. His selections came down to Corey Myrick Jr., formerly of Southern Miss and Jerome Carter III, an Old Dominion product.

Unlike traditional ways of coming in from high school and earning a position, Myrick and Carter had to earn their spots on a Power Four roster through highly successful seasons at their previous schools.

Last season, Myrick was credited with 95 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 starts at Southern Miss. In his first two years at  Old Dominion, Carter notched 98 tackles and three pass breakups with the monarchs. As a sophomore, the Lake City, Fla., native tied Jones for second-most interceptions nationally with six, on his way to All-Conference status in the Sun Belt.

We will see how well the changes have worked for the Tigers on Sept. 5, when Clemson opens its season against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., a team known for its explosive offensive firepower.