"Just a bunch of nobodies?"

[LafayetteBear]

That was Dabo's description of this season's 2026 Clemson football roster, notwithstanding that there are four team members on the preseason All-ACC list.

Is this simply a matter of Dabo trying to lower expectations, or is it something else? I believe the perception is that he is not a big Transfer Portal recruiter (a la Curt Cignetti), but hasn't he always been considered a pretty good recruiter? I find it hard to believe that Clemson doesn't have a fair amount of NIL money to spend.

 

[TigerGrowls]

That was Dabo's description of this season's 2026 Clemson football roster, notwithstanding that there are four team members on the preseason All-ACC list.

Is this simply a matter of Dabo trying to lower expectations, or is it something else? I believe the perception is that he is not a big Transfer Portal recruiter (a la Curt Cignetti), but hasn't he always been considered a pretty good recruiter? I find it hard to believe that Clemson doesn't have a fair amount of NIL money to spend.

Dabo went in the portal to a greater degree this past winter finally. They also decided to up the amount of NIL money offered to high school recruits this year. They have upgraded the scouting dept also. I think Clemson will overachieve this season after falling flat last season. He did gamble though by choosing not to grab a proven QB in the portal.

 

[52317Hawk]

That was Dabo's description of this season's 2026 Clemson football roster, notwithstanding that there are four team members on the preseason All-ACC list.

Is this simply a matter of Dabo trying to lower expectations, or is it something else? I believe the perception is that he is not a big Transfer Portal recruiter (a la Curt Cignetti), but hasn't he always been considered a pretty good recruiter? I find it hard to believe that Clemson doesn't have a fair amount of NIL money to spend.

"We'll see if they become somebodies"......to paraphrase. I think it's just his way of saying you'll earn you spot by working hard and that nothing is going ot be handed out.

I could be wrong, but it seems like a pretty innocuous comment.