Dabo Swinney hardly uses the transfer portal, but that doesn’t mean he’s opposed to looking to unique places for players. That happened this week when Clemson basketball star Ian Schieffelin announced he was joining the Clemson football team after receiving a serious invite from Swinney. The official news comes after months of the national championship winning coach floating the idea of playing tight end by the 6-foot-8 power forward. “I’ve been just training for basketball, getting ready for the next level,” Schieffelin told ESPN. “Dabo just walked me through the opportunity he was willing to give me, and it all sounded great, something I wanted to jump on.” “It really just sparked my interest in wanting to try, and being able to put on a Clemson jersey again was very enticing to me. To be able to be coached by Dabo and [tight ends coach Kyle] Richardson is just a huge opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” Schieffelin averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season as Clemson earned a 5-seed in the NCAA tournament but lost to McNeese in the first round. He had been preparing for a professional basketball career but will instead put that on hold to wear a Tigers uniform once again. Albeit, in a different sport. “I’d never rule out me going back to basketball,” Schieffelin said. “I’ll see how these next six months go, see how development goes, see if I really like playing football. But I think this is a good opportunity for the next six months.” Clemson lost starting tight end Jake Briningstool after last season. Josh Sapp (13 catches), Olsen Patt-Henry (12 catches) and Banks Pope (1 catch) are the others on the roster with a catch. Basketball players have a history of blossoming into NFL tight ends. Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox was a four-year starter in basketball for VCU before signing with Indianapolis. Jimmy Graham and Julius Peppers played both sports in college before becoming All-Pro NFL players and one of the greatest tight ends of all time, Antonio Gates, famously played basketball at Kent State before. “Maybe I’ll be really good, maybe I’ll be really bad. It’s something that was worth a shot,” Schieffelin told ESPN. “And being able to put a Clemson jersey on again is really special to me, and to do it this time in Death Valley is going to be amazing.” Clemson opens its 2025 season against LSU on Aug. 30.