Clemson Football’s approach to NIL has changed over the few years since its NCAA approval, but one constant is Coach Dabo Swinney’s stance against using NIL as a primary recruiting tool. This applies equally to high school recruits and transfers.
Swinney emphasizes avoiding a transactional relationship between players and the program, believing that when players choose Clemson for reasons beyond NIL benefits, they are more likely to stay. This approach has been supported by a higher retention rate among starting players compared to many similar programs.
Despite challenges in attracting desired players from the transfer portal, Clemson’s NIL policy has not hindered their ability to recruit top high school talent. They continue to draw in highly regarded prospects, although the landscape influenced by NIL is still evolving. The case of David Sanders, a standout in the Class of 2025 ranked second overall by 247Sports Composite, exemplifies this dynamic.
Sanders initially showed strong interest in Clemson following a January campus visit, but his enthusiasm waned as he began exploring other programs, notably Tennessee.
