All-conference safety leaving Clemson football, Dabo via transfer portal
Clemson football has lost another key defender to the portal.
Starting sophomore safety Ricardo Jones, who led the ACC with six interceptions this season, is entering the transfer portal, according to Saturday night reports from On3 Sports and ESPN. Jones was voted third-team All ACC in 2026.
Jones (6-2, 195) is a huge loss for Clemson and the third player with starting experience to leave via the portal, joining junior safety Khalil Barnes and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Stephiylan Green.
Barnes (Ole Miss, Georgia) and Green (LSU, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Miami) are already drawing interest from big-time programs. Jones will have suitors, too.
In 2025, Jones started 12 of 13 games for Clemson, recorded 46 total tackles and had six interceptions including a pick six and five pass breakups. His six picks were the most by a Clemson player since DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 (eight).
In Clemson’s regular-season finale win at South Carolina, Jones recorded two interceptions and had a game-icing 12-yard interception return for a touchdown off USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers in the fourth quarter of a 28-14 win.
The former four-star recruit from Georgia also finished tied for second nationally with six interceptions while playing 716 defensive snaps. He wasn’t without his mistakes but was considered a key piece for Clemson heading into 2026.
Now, the Tigers must replace another notable starter.
Jones is Clemson’s 12th overall scholarship transfer portal entry and its 10th scholarship entry since the 2025 regular season ended.
Clemson is yet to add any portal commitments, but Swinney and the Tigers have been more active than ever and have set up multiple visits with transfers.
Reserve DT enters transfer portal
Clemson suffered its 13th scholarship portal departure Sunday morning when reserve defensive tackle Champ Thompson entered the portal, per TigerIllustrated.com. Thompson, a redshirt freshman, played in eight games in 2025.
The former four-star recruit played an elevated role in the Pinstripe Bowl after multiple DL departures and recorded two tackles. He was viewed as a solid rotational piece headed into the 2026 season.
How the NCAA transfer portal works in 2025-26
The NCAA transfer portal window runs for 15 days from Jan. 2-16, 2026. Players cannot formally enter their name into the transfer portal until Jan. 2, although hundreds will declare their intent to enter the portal earlier than that date.
Once they are formally in the portal, player can commit to a school at any point. There is no spring transfer portal window, as the NCAA abolished it last fall.
Clemson football 2025 transfers
- ATH Marquise Henderson (offseason, dismissed from team)
- DB Shelton Lewis (mid-season)
- LB Dee Crayton
- RB Keith Adams Jr.
- S Khalil Barnes
- LB Jamal Anderson
- S Rob Billings
- TE Josh Sapp
- DE Caden Story
- DT Stephiylan Green
- DE Markus Dixon
- S Ricardo Jones
- DT Champ Thompson
This story was originally published January 3, 2026 at 7:58 PM.
