Ranking the 12 players that left Clemson for the transfer portal during the 2024 cycle (2024)

Originally a walk-on, Hunter Helms became a scholarship player before the 2021-22 season. Fans will remember his two touchdowns at Georgia Tech as a true freshman in Clemson's 73-7 win over the Yellow Jackets.

Helms finished his Tigers' career 23-of-37 passing with 218 yards. He entered the transfer portal on Nov. 28, 2023 and later committed to Rhode Island in January.

As a prospect, he was the No. 110 pro-style QB in the 2020 class. Helms was never going to become Clemson's starting quarterback, putting him at the bottom of this list.

Like Helms, Domonique Thomas joined the team as a walk-on in 2022, but earned a scholarship prior to his true freshman season. In two seasons, he had 25 carries for 147 yards in 64 career snaps.

Thomas was the Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division Offensive Freshman of the Year at Union College in Kentucky prior to joining the Tigers. He transferred to Georgia State in December before reentering the portal just four months later on April 16.

He is yet to sign with another program.

Over the last two seasons, Mitchell Mayes made nine starts at the end of the 2022 season and the beginning of the 2023 season. Inconsistent play and injuries took him out of the lineup during the back-half of last season, and he decided to enter the transfer portal in November.

Mayes committed to Charlotte (AAC) a few weeks later on December 11.

He was the No. 34 offensive guard in the 2020 class.

Sage Ennis entered the portal after four seasons at Clemson. He made two starts in 41 appearances, finishing his Tigers' career with six receptions for 77 yards.

He suffered a season-ending knee injury against Georgia Tech in November, and announced his intent to transfer a couple weeks later.

After originally committing to Florida A&M, Ennis switched his commitment to ACC opponent Virginia after the Rattlers underwent a head coaching change. He has one year of eligibility.

Ennis (Tallahassee, Fla.) was the No. 18 tight end in the 2020 cycle.

After battling through a decent share of shoulder injuries, it was unclear if Lannden Zanders would play college football again. However, in December, he announced his intentions to continue playing the sport, just for a different coach and program.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been picked up yet.

Zanders started 10 games for Clemson from 2019-2021. He had 57 tackles (five for loss), three sacks and four pass breakups. He is a former three-star prospect from Shelby, N.C.

Brannon Spector playing at Clemson was a family tradition, with his brother, Baylon, starring for the Tigers from 2017-2021. His father and sister were also Tiger athletes.

He had 38 career receptions for 372 yards and two touchdowns in six starts from 2019-2023. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Jacksonville State in January.

Spector (Calhoun, Ga.) was the No. 61 WR in the 2019 class.

Adam Kissayi became the first Clemson player to enter the transfer portal during the spring window on April 22. He had only been on campus since December, joining a stacked defensive line room.

Kissayi's decision to transfer to Minnesota, where he was once committed in high school, seemed almost predetermined, with his decision coming just hours after his portal entry.

He was the No. 29 EDGE in the 2024 class.

Zack Owens was the second and last player on the Tigers to withdraw from the team after spring practice. He appeared in two games last season before redshirting.

Owens (McDonough, Ga.) was a four-star recruit in the 2023 cycle. He was the No. 18 offensive tackle and a top-200 player overall. He committed to Colorado on April 28.

Beaux Collins was Clemson's third-leading receiver last season, hauling in 38 passes for 510 yards in 11 starts. He suffered a season-ending injury on Nov. 18 against North Carolina.

Collins entered the portal after the Tigers' bowl win over Kentucky, and committed to Notre Dame a week later. He had nearly 1,300 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, but struggled with drops in his career, as well.

He was a four-star in the 2021 class — and a high-school teammate of former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei at St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif.

David Ojiegbe only appeared in two games for Clemson in his true freshman season, redshirting during the 2023-24 campaign. He likely would've seen more playing time in 2024-25, but instead, decided to enter the transfer portal in early December.

He committed to Pittsburgh two weeks later.

Ojiegbe (Washington, D.C.) was a promising four-star recruit, listed as the No. 32 EDGE in the 2023 cycle. He had 30 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in his senior year of high school.

Toriano Pride Jr. showed a lot of potential in two seasons at Clemson, finishing with 37 tackles (two for loss), nine pass breakups, an interception and a safety in 26 appearances.

However, with young, talented defensive backs like Shelton Lewis and Avieon Terrell making their way up the depth chart, Pride entered the transfer portal and ended up at Missouri.

Pride was a huge get for the Tigers in the 2022 class, coming to Clemson as a top-40 player overall and the No. 6 cornerback in the cycle.

There shouldn't be any doubt that Andrew Mukuba takes the No. 1 spot on this list. He made 31 starts from 2021-2023, racking up 149 tackles, 20 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception in over 1,700 career snaps for the Tigers.

He was set to retain his spot as one of the key leaders on Clemson's defensive unit this season, but instead, surprised the fanbase by entering the transfer portal and committing to Texas.

An Austin native, Mukuba was the No. 14 safety and No. 204 player in the 2021 cycle.