A former NFL star is accusing Clemson of having too many “white dudes” on the roster.
Clemson, which won two national championships under Dabo Swinney, has not been a truly elite program in a couple of years. On Saturday, the Tigers were blown out by No. 1 Georgia, 34-3, to open the 2024 season.
Former NFL star Roddy White, who played for the Atlanta Falcons, thinks Swinney is recruiting and playing too many white guys.
“Clemson got way to (sic) many White dudes on the field on offense this ain’t them. U mean to tell me u only got one Black dude out there making plays that’s a recruiting problem,” he wrote.
Clemson got way to many white dudes on the field on offense this ain’t them. U mean to tell me u only got one black dude out there making plays that’s a recruiting problem
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) August 31, 2024
Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe, meanwhile, thinks it’s a transfer portal issue.
“Check this out, he’s gonna have to come to the conclusion, the realization; he’s gonna have to have an epiphany, which is a realization that if you don’t get the transfer portal, you ain’t winning,” said Sharpe on his Night Cap show with Chad Johnson. “…Clemson is one of four teams, Navy, Army, Air Force — they don’t accept transfers at the service academies — that didn’t land a transfer. Hey, Dabo, you said when they started paying players, you were gonna exit stage left.
“I remember, hey, you know another guy? Coach K said, ‘I don’t do that. One and dones? No, that ain’t me.’ Right? Until he started doing one and dones. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Dabo, get with the program. You’re not that good. You’re not that good, buddy. You’re not that good. If you think you’re just gonna get high school seniors, and that’s what you gonna win with? Bro, it’s over. It is over. Everybody else is doing it. Look at the top-10 teams.
“I was reading a thing, I think it was The New York Times, where it’s telling you what it costs to get a top nine. You’re paying $700,000-$800,000 for a quarterback. You’re paying $400,000-$500,000 for a receiver. You’re paying $400,000-$500,000 for a defensive lineman. Can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
Clemson fell to 0-1 on the season with the season-opening loss to No. 1 Georgia.
The Tigers will be back on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Appalachian State.
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