CLEMSON — According to head coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s defense stole the show at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday. Specifically, several transfer defenders turned heads in the Tigers’ first scrimmage of the spring.

“All those new guys have have really flashed for us,” Swinney said. “We’re a more cohesive group across the board. We’re just not making a lot of mistakes on defense. You’re having to earn everything and that’s been encouraging.” 

Of the 10 transfers Clemson added in the portal window, eight will play defense for the Tigers under coordinator Tom Allen next season. After the scrimmage, Swinney highlighted all eight for the strengths they have demonstrated so far.

The veteran coach started with an analysis of Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter III, two veteran safeties Clemson signed in January. Ahead of spring practice, Swinney and Allen both noted that the pair were top-priority picks for the Tigers. So far their dominance has translated to the practice fields..

“Ronan (Hanafin), Myrick, and Jerome, oh man, we just look different,” Swinney said. “They’re where they’re supposed to be. They’re playing fast. They’re really good tacklers. So, I’ve been encouraged by them.”

Myrick, a rising junior, played his first two seasons at Southern Miss. He arrived at Clemson credited with 95 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 12 starts. Carter, on the other hand, had six interceptions– tied for second in the nation– in 2025, along with 75 tackles at Old Dominion last season. 

The Tigers added another powerful portal pair to the secondary with cornerbacks Donovan Starr out of Auburn, and Elliot Washington II from Penn State. Washington, a rising senior, has made an immediate impression on Swinney.

“Elliot Washington has been by far to me the best guy in camp,” Swinney said. “He’s made plays every single day. Every single day he’s made a play and he’s turned the ball over more than anybody all spring.”

Washington arrived in the Upstate after three seasons with the Nittany Lions. In his sophomore year, the Sarasota, Fla., native was coached by Allen – who served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator for a season before joining the Tigers. Washington collected 53 tackles, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups in his three-year career.

Despite Washington taking ‘Spring Camp MVP’ honors, Starr, a sophomore, has also turned heads in March.

“Same thing with with Starr, just a true sophomore, but, great body, can really run,” Swinney said. “All those new guys have have really flashed for us.”

Clemson’s staff prioritized corners and safeties this offseason, with several former players headed in the portal or to the NFL Draft, after the 2025 season. However, with mainstays like T.J Parker, Peter Woods, and Demonte Capehart declaring for the draft, Clemson also picked up four defensive linemen this winter.

The Tigers brought in London Merritt, a former Colorado edge rusher who was named to the Freshman All-American team in 2025, after accumulating eight tackles for loss in 12 games for the Buffaloes last season. C.J. Wesley, another addition out of Howard University, has also exceeded expectations in the defensive ends room.

“London Merritt, he shows up, he’s tough, he’s heavy-handed,” Swinney said.” “He plays behind his pads.

“Wesley is what we thought he’d be,” he added. “He’s just a little further along than we thought he’d be because he’s fast.”

Along with Merritt and Wesley, Clemson added two more linemen in Oklahoma transfer Markus Strong, who made an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season, and West Georgia standout Kourtney Kelly. Along with the other additions, both players have “flashed” at times this spring.

“Markus Strong, I think he had a couple sacks today,” Swinney said of the Railford, Fla., native. “Very encouraged by what I’ve seen from him.”

Kelly, Strong’s counterpart, totaled seven tackles for loss, four sacks, and a fumble recovery last season at West Georgia. Though he suffered an injury in Wednesday’s scrimmage, his disruptive nature has transferred so far to Power Four practices.

“I don’t know the extent of (the injury), but, (Kelly is) a young player,” Swinney said. “He’s got three years left and he’s a guy that’s flashed a lot this spring, too.”

The Tigers have several more practices before getting to show their new-look roster to Clemson fans at the annual Orange and White Spring Game on March 28 at Memorial Stadium.