CLEMSON — Portal madness is quickly turning into portal sadness for Clemson fans.
The Clemson Insider has confirmed that portal signee Luke Ferrelli plans to once again enter the transfer portal.
Through multiple sourcing, TCI learned that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke to Ferrelli on Friday. At that time, Ferrelli told Swinney about his decision to leave the team and enter the portal.
But getting in touch with Ferrelli was not easy for Clemson. TCI was told there was a stretch when Clemson could not get in contact with him. He could not be found on campus, nor was he answering his phone.
As of Saturday morning, sources told TCI Ferrelli turned in his books and his laptop to the school. We were told his plans are to re-enter the portal and go to Ole Miss. Ferrelli visited Clemson early in the portal window, then officially signed with the Tigers last week.
TCI learned Ferrelli was not only enrolled at Clemson, but he had been attending classes and participating in team activities. As of Friday night, his name was on the official roster on the school’s athletic website and he was listed in the student directory at Clemson.
While the portal window officially closed on Friday night, teams have 48 business hours to enter a player’s name once they have informed the school of their desire to enter. Keep in mind, Monday is MLK Day and the school is closed for business, meaning Clemson has through Wednesday night to officially enter Ferrelli’s name into the portal.
Ferrelli’s abrupt departure is just one more example of the wild west type of atmosphere that college football has become, and it will be interesting to see how Clemson responds to one of its signed portal players being poached.
Typically the athletes’ contracts have penalty clauses included in them. For example, some include language that would give the schools a way to be reimbursed financially. In some of these deals, the school could receive money that had already been paid out to the athlete, plus a percentage of that money as the “penalty.”
Many contracts have an injunctive relief clause which would allow the school to seek other remedies above the monetary damages. If that clause is included in the contract, the school could go to court and try to prevent a player from playing at another school.
While Clemson has a template for its contracts, players’ representatives negotiate changes in some cases. We do not know the specifics of the contract Ferrilli signed.
However, TCI does know that Clemson is exploring its legal options and how it will respond.
Ferrelli was the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2025 after tying for second on his team with 87 tackles, while adding five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception that he returned two yards, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. He tied for eighth in the ACC in total tackles and tied for ninth in tackles per game (7.3), earning All-ACC honorable mention.
Keep in touch with TCI for the latest information as it becomes available.