Dabo Swinney has made a career out of winning at Clemson, and at 55 years old, the head coach has already secured 180 victories and two national championships. One of the key factors behind his success? Surrounding himself with talented, competitive players who know how to win.
That’s why Swinney is especially excited about the latest addition to his roster. On Wednesday, Clemson announced that forward Ian Schieffelin—after completing four years of college basketball—is officially joining the Tigers’ football team. And this isn’t a move out of nowhere. Swinney saw it coming.
Back in fall 2024, Swinney hinted at Schieffelin’s potential football future, saying, “When he’s done with basketball, I’m gonna get him out here at D-end, tight end. That’s a football player. I’ll definitely have a spot.” Now, that prediction is coming true.
Schieffelin, who played quarterback and tight end at Grayson High School in Georgia before focusing on basketball, brings athleticism, toughness, and versatility to the field. He’s not the first Tiger to cross over sports either—NFL star DeAndre Hopkins once played a few games for Clemson’s basketball team as a freshman.
The 6-foot-8 Schieffelin just wrapped up a solid senior basketball season, averaging 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds while helping lead Clemson to the NCAA Tournament. Over 134 career games, he averaged 8.0 points and 6.6 rebounds. He entered the transfer portal this spring but ultimately chose to stay put and explore a new challenge instead—on the football field.
Now, with his college basketball career behind him, Schieffelin is gearing up for a new chapter under Coach Swinney, adding another layer of intrigue to Clemson’s upcoming football season.
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