Gridiron Nomad Touches Down in Death Valley
Lyrik Rawls, a 6-foot-1 safety from Kansas, is scheduling a visit to Clemson on Jan. 10–11 after a standout year at KU with 72 tackles and seven pass breakups. Previously at Oklahoma State, Rawls preserved a redshirt before two productive seasons, including a juggling interception on debut. With Arizona State and Duke also vying, Clemson hopes Rawls fills the void left by departing secondary players and partners up with lone strong safety Ronan Hanafin for veteran stability.
Welcome to the ultimate collegiate yard sale: Clemson’s secondary is hosting auditions for its next last line of defense. Apparently, offering free barbecue and a roof over your head isn’t enough—now you need to parade transfer safeties through campus like contestants on The Bachelor. Expect Lyrik to critique Dabo’s hospitality and demand a remote learning option so he can nap between film sessions.
Sun Belt Bulldozer Plans Offensive Line Sabotage
Georgia Southern’s Johnnie Brown III, an All–Sun Belt third-team offensive tackle/guard, will visit Clemson on Jan. 5 after stops in Miami and Georgia Southern. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman allowed just three sacks on 826 snaps this season, ranking 117th among 617 tackles per Pro Football Focus. With four Clemson starters gone, Brown offers versatility and power up front, though Louisville and West Virginia also await his decision.
Behold the itinerant blocker: Johnnie Brown III crisscrossing the transfer circuit like an NFL free agent at a buffet of campuses. Clemson’s line must be thinner than Dabo’s patience given all the departures, so cue the musical chairs on the trench, courtesy of a guy who once walked on at Miami. If Brown doesn’t like the color of your cleats, he moves on—just like every other O-lineman in this portal frenzy.
Oklahoma’s Pocket Disruptor Eyes Clemson Tour
Markus Strong, a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle from Oklahoma, is planning a visit to Clemson this week to fill gaps left by NFL departures and transfers. In three seasons at OU, Strong tallied 11 tackles and three sacks, including one vs. Kent State in 2025. Also courting Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-3, 297-pound Floridian brings two years of eligibility and depth to Clemson’s thin defensive tackle rotation.
Defensive tackle by day, transfer portal tourist by night—Markus Strong is shopping depth charts as if they’re clearance jerseys. Clemson’s trying to bulk up its interior line faster than a college kid at an all-you-can-eat buffet, because apparently the NFL and other transfers left Dabo’s defense looking like Swiss cheese. Someone pass the protein shake; this transfer tour could get messy.
Leave a Reply