CLEMSON — There will be a change to when college football teams have to drop walk-ons this coming season.

With the new revenue sharing going into place thanks to the House vs. NCAA settlement, teams were expected to drop their roster size to 105 players in college football by July 1. However, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney indicated that deadline has changed.

“I’d like to have a few more out. We’d like to get as many as we can get,” Swinney said after the Tigers’ fifth of 15 spring practices on Friday. “Originally, we thought we would have to be at 105 by July 1, so we do not have to do that until first game week, unless some Hail Mary happens.

“So, we will try to keep as many as we can, as long as we can.”

It appears Clemson is ready to adapt whenever they are told to cut down the roster officially. However, a former walk-on himself, Swinney is not a fan that young men who have worked hard to make a team will not be able to play football this fall.

“It is not hard on me. It is hard on them,” Clemson’s head coach said. “They all know there is nothing we can do about it. They love to play ball, and they love to be a part of it.

“Who knows? Anything can happen. At the end of the day, you want to go into the season with at least a healthy 105, whoever it is. Give yourself the most practice guys available as you go into it. I hate it for the kids, but they all know. Everybody knows.”

Swinney indicated a few of his walk-ons, who do not make the 105-roster, could stay on the team and help in other ways.

“There are a few of those guys, that do not make the 105, they may be a student assistant or something,” he said. “We got a few guys that are going to be seniors. Maybe they can serve the team in another role, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.”

As of right now, the Tigers will come to that bridge the week prior to their season opener against LSU on Aug. 30 in Clemson.