With Clemson senior wide receiver Tristan Smith having spent his first two seasons at the JUCO level playing for Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, many have wondered whether he might be granted an extra year of eligibility.

There have been several examples of players who have played at the JUCO level being granted extra years of eligibility, most notably Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

Smith has been attempting to get that extra year, so during his press conference Friday ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl vs. Penn State, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was asked how long the Tigers will wait on Smith’s eligibility, given it’s uncertain with a potential NCAA waiver.

Swinney says they’re prepared to go as far as necessary with Smith, who would like to return for another season, but they’ll have to see how that plays out.

“Oh yeah, we’ll go as far as we gotta go,” Swinney said. “Obviously at some point, something will have to break there, because he’s got a chance to go play at the next level. I know he’d like to come back, but we’ll just have to see how it all plays out, and go from there.”

After transferring to Clemson ahead of the 2025 season following an outstanding 2024 campaign at Southeast Missouri State, Smith has tallied 22 receptions for 229 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for the Tigers (three starts).

Last season at Southeast Missouri State, he earned second-team Big South-OVC Football Association all-conference honors after catching 76 passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games.

During his time at Hutchinson Community College from 2022-23, Smith had 14 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in 10 games in 2023 after catching two passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in seven games as a freshman in 2022.

Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup vs. Penn State at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx will kick off at noon and be televised on ABC. Whether or not it is Smith’s final game in a Clemson uniform remains to be seen.