Dabo Swinney has technically hit the portal once again, but in an unexpected way. Last Friday, it was announced that Clemson basketball star Ian Schieffelin will be making the switch to football. This comes just six months after Swinney spoke about his interest in the star forward joining the program. At that time, most in the room believed it was just a joke. That joke became very real with a phone conversation between Swinney and Schieffelin a couple of weeks ago.
Schieffelin’s Clemson basketball career came to an end after the Tigers’ loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament to McNeese State. He entered the transfer portal shortly after, hoping to get a fifth year of eligibility. The forward was also seriously considering trying his hand at the pro level, either overseas or in the NBA’s G-League, until Swinney made the offer. Now, Schieffelin will be able to spend more time at the school he loves while rekindling his interest in a sport he has not played since his freshman year of high school.
Ian Schieffelin’s Potential in Football?
Clemson Basketball Career
Schieffelin spent his entire college career at Clemson, first arriving on campus for the 2021-22 season. By his sophomore year, he became a key contributor for the Tigers basketball team. He appeared in all 34 games that year, starting 22 of them. Schieffelin then went on to start every game of his junior and senior seasons. After his junior year, Scheffelin was named the 2023 ACC Most Improved player. It was shortly after this that Swinney first began to mention his interest in Schieffelin.
During his senior season, Schieffelin started gaining a bit of national attention as he nearly averaged a double-double. Schieffelin finished the 2024-25 season averaging 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. This earned him Second-Team All-ACC honors as he led Clemson to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. The star forward finished his career as a Tiger basketball player with over 1,000 points scored. Though he may not have reached the level yet that he wants to in basketball, Schielfelin now can give himself the option to pursue a pro career in football as well.
Schieffelin’s Attributes
It is easy to see why Swinney is excited about the idea of turning Schieffelin into a football prospect. His body frame is one that many basketball and football coaches dream of finding. Schieffelin is listed at 6’8 and 240 pounds. That is great size for the tight end position, which Schieffelin will be playing. He also has a frame that could add 10-15 pounds if he gets serious about trying to play in the NFL. Schieffelin also has long arms that will help him create separation in space and high-point passes. He’s explosive getting off the ground, so throwing him some jump balls could lead to some big plays.
The attribute that likely caught Swinney’s attention beyond his size is Schieffelin’s strength. He is a strong basketball player who knows how to use his body to create opportunities. He will have to do the same on the gridiron to catch passes against defensive backs and linebackers. Schieffelin will still need to get stronger and more aggressive to handle the physical nature of football. The former forward does have some favorable attributes already though. He has the natural gifts and an athletic foundation that will give him the potential to carve out a future in football.
Potential in Football
So, the question then becomes how much potential does Schieffelin have as a football player? Schieffelin does have some football experience in his background. The last time he played organized football, though, was his ninth-grade year at Grayson High School. While there, he actually played quarterback, not tight end. It is hard to find any stats or videos of Schieffelin on the gridiron, so all we can do currently is imagine what he will be. Schieffelin is not the first college basketball player to transition back to football, though. In fact one player who has done this already is Colts tight end Mo Alice-Cox.
Alice-Cox and Schieffelin have already had a chance to connect this offseason. Other NFL greats at the tight end position Schieffelin can look to for inspiration are Jimmy Graham and Antonio Gates. The blueprint is out there for this transition to be a success. As mentioned, Schieffelin does have many attributes that translate well to football. This summer and fall camp will be key in Schieffelin making the smoothest transition possible.
Clemson Tight End Situation
Something that could have sparked this move by Swinney, other than being a fan Schieffelin, is the bit of uncertainty around the depth of the tight end position. While many have focused on the question marks around the running back room on the Tigers’ offense, it seems some have overlooked the lack of experience at tight end as well. With Adam Randall moving to running back, that leaves Olsen Patt-Henry and Josh Sapp as the most experienced guys at the position.
Both Patt-Henry and Sapp are good players, but Swinney may feel they just need another piece to get the most production at the position. Sapp and Patt-Henry both have less than 15 catches in their career so far. Adding Schieffelin could give offensive coordinator Garrett Riley more flexibility with the position. Having different guys with varying skill sets can give him a chance to be more creative with his play designs and calls.
Whatever way things shake out, it is expected Schieffelin will get some opportunities early on. It will be exciting getting a chance to see his growth in the sport over the next year. Also, it will be interesting to see how he contributes to a team widely considered to be a national championship contender.
Main Image: Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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