Clemson Cornerback Shelton Lewis to Enter Transfer Portal
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – โค Clemson cornerback Shelton Lewis will enterโ the transferโ portal, becoming the first Tiger to do โคso in the 2026 cycle, accordingโ to aโ report by greenvilleonline. Lewis intends to utilize a four-game redshirt season โคthis year,preserving โขtwo years of eligibility.
Lewis spent three seasons with the Clemson football program, appearing in four games in 2025 and recording seven tackles and one pass deflection. He primarily served as the backupโ nickel โcornerbackโข to Misun โKelley, seeingโ meaningful actionโ against Syracuse in Week 4 when Kelley โwas unavailable, playing 33 defensive snaps. He โคwasโ limited to special โฃteams duties in the season opener against LSU.
The decision comes as โLewis played in justโ enough games to qualify for โa โฃredshirt without sacrificing aโค year of eligibility. had he played in one more game this season, he would have been ineligible for a redshirt and would have had onlyโ one year of eligibility remaining.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has publicly โขadvocated for a rule change allowing โฃplayers five years to โplay five seasons, aiming to addressโ situations like Lewis’ where playersโค might consider sitting out games to โpreserve redshirt status.
Clemson โ(1-3, 0-2 ACC) faces North โคCarolina (2-2) on Oct. 4 at noonโ ET โon ESPN.