CLEMSON — Even Dabo Swinney admits this past year has been an unusual year when it comes to recruiting for the Clemson Football program.

The Tigers’ 2025 Class was mostly finalized Wednesday morning, with the program inking 15 players. However, though Swinney did not directly comment on the seven de-commitments the program has had, including six since August, he did acknowledge what an unusual year it has been for a football program that has lived a lot in the top 10 and top 15 the previous 15 years, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

“It has been, as we all know, an unusual year,” he said. “I would say the past four years have been kind of COVID, a lot of changes in college (athletics) with NIL, the (transfer) portal. You name it across the board.”

All of those things have probably led to the steady decline for Clemson, at least in the recruiting rankings. Clemson’s current composite ranking of No. 26 for the 2025 Class is the program’s worst since the 2010 Class ranked No. 27.

Prior to Wednesday, Clemson’s classes have all been ranked in the top 20 dating back to 2011. That was 14 straight classes, including seven top 10 classes.

After peaking at No. 3 in 2020, Clemson was ranked No. 5 in 2021, No. 10 in 2022, No. 11 in 2023 and 2024. And now there is this year’s No. 26 ranking, which also ranks fourth in the ACC behind No. 15 Miami, No. 18 Georgia Tech and No. 25 Florida State.

“This has probably been the most chaotic time ever for a student-athlete,” Swinney said. “I think we are probably heading out of that and into maybe the best time ever to be a student-athlete.

“I really believe that, I think this is going to be an unbelievable time to be a student-athlete starting next year with some actual order, great opportunity and probably a new government structure coming at some point over the next year or so.”

Swinney has stated in the past weeks leading up to signing day that Clemson will be back where it belongs in the recruiting rankings, especially with the new revenue sharing going into effect next summer, and what he calls, “new legislation” when it comes to creating a standard for NIL.

But until then, Clemson has fallen behind somewhat. The Tigers’ head coach did mention they could sign a wide receiver to this class before the end of the signing period in February and of course there is the transfer portal.

The transfer portal window officially opens on Monday. Depending on how many players enter the portal, Clemson could potentially go shopping in the portal this off-season.

“If something unexpected happens,” Swinney said. “Right now, we do not expect any unexpected, but who knows? Yes, it is a good tool to know that you can go get a guy if you need it. But when you look at your roster, and we met for an hour this morning on it. Every position, every coach, and then we go from there. So, we will see.”

As for the guys the Tigers signed on Wednesday, Swinney says they remind him of one his more famous recruiting classes, “The Dandy Dozen,” which featured former Clemson great and Hall of Fame quarterback Tajh Boyd.

“I think this group right here is a lot like the Dandy Dozen, and will prove to be very, very special,” he said. “I really believe that, this is going to be a special group of individuals.”

This year’s recruiting class is highlighted by a five-star defensive tackle in Amare Adams (6-3, 290) and an offensive tackle Swinney calls the best offensive tackle prospect they have ever recruited — Brayden Jacobs (6-7, 310).

“We really hit on what we needed,” Swinney said.