After starting to come on during the second half of last season, Corian Gipson has really asserted himself during the competition to be Clemson’s starting nickel.

While Tink Kelley and transfer Donovan Starr also got some work at the spot Tom Allen calls the Tiger in his defense, it is Gipson who Dabo Swinney said has the leg up as the team wrapped up fall camp and began to start prep for the September 5 opener at LSU.

“I think Gipson has really settled in there,” the head coach said. “I think he’s an elite football player at any position. He’s got a bright, bright, bright, bright future, that kid.”

Swinney even took it a step further, noting that Gipson is versatile enough to play any position on the backend of Clemson’s defense.

“I think he could probably start at five positions for us,” Swinney said. “Either corner, either safety, and the Tiger position. He’s a really gifted young player.”

After missing his debut season recovering from an injury, Gipson appeared in all 12 games in 2025. And as the season progressed, the more the former four-star talent saw the field, including getting starts in the final three regular-season games. He ended the year with 14 tackles and three pass breakups.

“He’s got three years left,” Swinney added. “Obviously, he was out his freshman year, but he made a big jump last year. And now he has really come on. He is probably top two fastest kids on the team. He is big, he is strong, he can fly.”

With Starr and Kelley also starting to come into their own, Swinney is confident the Tigers have some quality depth at the position.

“I think we have created a little bit of depth there with Tink,” Swinney said. “Tink is playing there, and he is playing corner. This has been his best camp. I would say the same thing about Starr. Starr has made a nice jump in camp. He has been one of the bright spots. He’s made a big jump. So we are creating some depth, but still got some work to do.”