Clemson’s non-midyear enrollees from the 2025 signing class have officially arrived on campus — including one name that’s technically been around before.

Clemson’s non-midyear enrollees from the 2025 signing class have officially arrived on campus — including one name that’s technically been around before.

The Tigers welcomed the remainder of their 2025 recruiting class this past weekend, marking the start of summer workouts and integration for a group that includes blue-chip talent and developmental prospects alike. The June influx is a key moment in the offseason calendar, especially for programs like Clemson that rely heavily on internal development and long-term roster construction rather than aggressive portal usage.

Among the arriving players are nine scholarship signees who did not enroll early, along with preferred walk-ons and a few gray-shirted athletes from the previous cycle. The class includes high-upside additions at wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker, and on the offensive line. But the most notable name among them may be one that longtime Clemson observers already recognize: defensive back Deuce Caldwell.

Caldwell, originally part of the 2023 class, reclassified for academic reasons and deferred his enrollment until 2025. He had previously practiced with the Tigers in a limited walk-on capacity in 2024 while sorting out eligibility and coursework requirements. Now, with everything cleared, he joins the roster as a full scholarship freshman and a potentially significant depth piece for a secondary that lost multiple veterans this offseason.

“It feels like I never left, honestly,” Caldwell said in a team-issued video. “But now, it’s real. I’m all in. I’m ready to go.”

The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back from Mauldin, South Carolina, played a hybrid safety/linebacker role in high school and has drawn comparisons to former Tiger K’Von Wallace for his versatility and physical style of play. While Clemson’s coaching staff won’t rush him into major reps, he could be a rotational option at nickel by midseason, especially given the attrition in the defensive backfield.

In total, the full 2025 signing class is now officially on campus, following a staggered enrollment process that began in January. Eleven signees enrolled midyear and have been working with the program since spring. Now, the full class is together for the first time.

Head coach Dabo Swinney praised the group’s maturity and mindset in a recent appearance on the university’s in-house podcast.

“This is a group that understands Clemson — they came here for the right reasons,” Swinney said. “They’re talented, no doubt, but they’re also workers. They know what we expect. They’ve bought in early.”

Among the headliners of the non-midyear group is four-star offensive lineman Marcus Tillman, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle from Alpharetta, Georgia. Tillman chose Clemson over offers from Florida, Auburn, and North Carolina, and while he’ll likely redshirt his first season, offensive line coach Thomas Austin believes he has “big-time” potential.

“He’s long, athletic, and nasty,” Austin said. “We’re going to get him in the weight room and let him develop. He could be a multi-year starter down the line.”

The group also includes versatile athlete Joshua Gentry, a three-star out of Charlotte who played quarterback, receiver, and safety in high school. At Clemson, he’ll start his career in the defensive backfield, though staff members have hinted he could eventually contribute on special teams and even in gadget packages on offense.

“I just want to help the team any way I can,” Gentry said upon arrival. “If that means scout team, if that means punt team, I’m ready to grind.”

Other incoming freshmen include linebacker Malik Thomas (Tampa, FL), wide receiver Jalen Avery (Greenville, SC), and defensive tackle Ricky Harden (Tucker, GA). Each brings a different element to the roster, though all are expected to follow Clemson’s traditional developmental arc — redshirt first year, compete for two-deep snaps in year two, and potentially start by year three or four.

The Tigers have made a point of emphasizing culture and patience in their recruiting strategy, opting not to aggressively pursue high-profile transfer portal targets even as rivals overhaul rosters each offseason. Swinney has defended this approach repeatedly, arguing that his program is built on foundation, not flash.

“We want young men who want to earn their stripes,” Swinney said during a recent media availability. “If you’re looking for a quick fix or a guaranteed starting job, Clemson’s probably not the place for you. But if you want to be developed — academically, spiritually, athletically — we’re going to do everything in our power to help you grow.”

The 2025 class, while not ranked as highly as some of Clemson’s past hauls, fits that model. The group finished No. 16 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings — down slightly from previous years — but includes multiple players the staff believes were undervalued due to injuries or limited camp exposure.

Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed highlighted Gentry and fellow signee Kameron Miles as “program guys” who may not start as freshmen but have All-ACC potential within three years.

“You win games in November with guys like that,” Reed said. “Smart, tough, and unselfish. They don’t care about the stars next to their name — they care about the paw on their helmet.”

The arrival of the full class also signals the start of summer strength and conditioning under Joey Batson’s staff. Freshmen will spend the next eight weeks in team-controlled training blocks, learning schemes, building chemistry, and preparing for the mental and physical rigors of fall camp.

The coaching staff expects every scholarship freshman to participate fully, though a few walk-ons and recovering players will be limited in early workouts. Conditioning and weight benchmarks will be evaluated weekly, and position coaches will begin early installation meetings as the program prepares for its August kickoff.

Clemson opens the 2025 season against Appalachian State at Memorial Stadium, a game that will likely feature minimal freshman participation but serve as a launching pad for rotational players to earn trust in live reps.

For players like Caldwell, the journey has already been long — and in many ways, already begun.

“I’ve been around the guys, been in the locker room, but now I get to really compete,” Caldwell said. “It’s go time.”

And for Swinney and the Tigers, the full arrival of the 2025 class is another reminder that despite evolving recruiting dynamics and college football’s shifting landscape, Clemson’s approach remains steadfast: develop from within, lean on your culture, and trust your process.