Clemson transfer who Dabo ‘genuinely wanted to keep’ standing out at new school
In April, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told ESPN that of all the players he’d lost to the transfer portal, there were only two he “genuinely wanted to keep.”
One was Andrew Mukuba, a talented safety who left Clemson for Texas after three seasons, started for the Longhorns in 2024 and was a second-round NFL Draft pick.
The other was ... A.J. Hoffler?
Yes, A.J. Hoffler, a defensive end who never started a game for Clemson over two years and averaged about 15 snaps a contest before transferring in December.
That quote from Swinney spoke to how well regarded Hoffler was among Clemson’s coaches as a long-term prospect — and the impact he could make at his new school, Georgia Tech, which just so happens to host Clemson in both teams’ ACC opener on Sept. 16 in Atlanta.
Speaking at last week’s ACC Kickoff preseason media event, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key raved about Hoffler (6-4, 255) and said he’ll contend for a starting defensive line role as a junior.
“A.J.’s got a chance to be a really, really, really good player for us,” Key said July 23.
Hoffler was a four-star composite recruit and the No. 312 player in the Class of 2023. He committed to Clemson over schools including Ohio State and was impactful enough as a true freshman that the Tigers decided to play him the full season (as opposed to playing four or fewer games to preserve a redshirt).
Hoffler had four tackles and two pass breakups in seven games as a true freshman and improved on those totals as a sophomore. He had 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss and more than tripled his snap total while appearing in all 14 games for Clemson’s 2024 CFP team.
But Hoffler never started a game for Clemson. His playing time in 2025 seemed even more iffy when Clemson added Purdue transfer portal DE Will Heldt.
So Hoffler entered the transfer portal on Dec. 26 and committed to Georgia Tech on Jan. 4. Although Hoffler was born in Florida, he spent most of his childhood in Georgia and played high school football at Woodward Academy in Atlanta.
That made GT an easy sell, Key said.
“He’s a local guy, we had a previous relationship with him from high school recruiting and he fit one of our needs,” Key said of Hoffler.
Hoffler was limited in the spring with a hamstring injury but is expected to be healthy for preseason camp, Key said. And he could wind up playing a key role for a Georgia Tech team that went 7-6 in 2024, returns starting quarterback Haynes King and is considered a dark-horse pick to make the ACC championship game.
“He tries to beat me inside the building in the morning,” Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Efford said of Hoffler. “And I don’t like for anyone to beat me in the morning, man. He’s been getting me. ... He has a genuine love and care for the game.”
Hoffler faces his former team in Week 3 when Clemson visits Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16 in Atlanta. The game is set for a noon kickoff on ABC or ESPN and is Clemson’s first road game and ACC game of 2025.
Clemson football 2025 transfer destinations
WR Troy Stellato, Kentucky
DB Sherrod Covil, Virginia Tech
WR Noble Johnson, Arizona State
WR Jackson Crosby, ETSU**
DE A.J. Hoffler, Georgia Tech
DT Tré Williams, Michigan
DB Tavoy Feagin, Ole Miss
DB Caleb Nix, Jacksonville State**
ATH Marquise Henderson, TBD
**walk-on/non-scholarship player
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
