Clemson football lands first transfer portal commitment from Big Ten DB
Clemson football has its first 2026 transfer portal commitment.
Former Penn State defensive back Elliot Washington II has committed to the Tigers, he told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports on Monday. Washington had been on a visit to Clemson over the weekend, per his social media accounts.
Washington (5-11, 199) has one year of eligibility remaining. In three seasons at Penn State, he had 53 total tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions.
Washington appeared in 36 games (one start) for PSU. In 2025, he primarily played outside corner for the Nittany Lions and had a coverage grade of 65.9, per Pro Football Focus metrics (fourth among seven qualifying Penn State corners).
Per PFF, Washington has only allowed one passing TD in 429 career coverage snaps. He did not play in Penn State’s Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl win vs. Clemson.
More on Elliot Washington, Clemson’s portal pursuits
He has a natural connection to Clemson, as he played under now-Tigers defensive coordinator Tom Allen in 2024 when Allen held the same role for the Nittany Lions during their run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Washington is Clemson’s first transfer portal commit, but he won’t be the Tigers’ last. Coach Dabo Swinney and his staff have already been more active than ever in the portal after a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025.
The Tigers are set to host multiple transfers in coming days and have also lost double-digit scholarship players to the portal, including three key expected 2026 starters on defense (S Khalil Barnes, S Ricardo Jones and DT Stephiylan Green).
Clemson football 2025-26 transfer portal
Transfers in (1)
- Penn State DB Elliot Washington II
Transfers out (13)
- ATH Marquise Henderson (offseason, dismissed from team)
- DB Shelton Lewis (mid-season)
- LB Dee Crayton
- RB Keith Adams Jr.
- S Khalil Barnes (Georgia)
- LB Jamal Anderson
- S Rob Billings
- TE Josh Sapp
- DE Caden Story
- DT Stephiylan Green
- DE Markus Dixon
- S Ricardo Jones
- DT Champ Thompson
This story was originally published January 5, 2026 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Clemson football lands first transfer portal commitment from Big Ten DB."
