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13 hours ago
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Clemson's football team just got a whole lot taller.
The Tigers learned on Friday that they'd be getting a former basketball star from their very own Tigers to come join the gridiron group.
Head coach Dabo Swinney offered the opportunity to Ian Schieffelin, and he decided to take it.
The 6-foot-8 Schieffelin is opting to put off any pro basketball pursuits for at least a year to stay at Clemson and put on a new uniform.
"I've been just training for basketball, getting ready for the next level," Schieffelin told ESPN. "Dabo just walked me through the opportunity he was willing to give me, and it all sounded great, something I wanted to jump on. It really just sparked my interest in wanting to try, and being able to put on a Clemson jersey again was very enticing to me. To be able to be coached by Dabo and [tight ends coach Kyle] Richardson is just a huge opportunity I couldn't pass up."
In 2024-25, Schieffelin averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the Clemson basketball team.
Now, the big guy is going to try to catch some touchdowns.
Clemson's starting tight end from last year, Jake Bringingstool, just signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
MORE: Read about Jake Briningstool's deal with the Chiefs, Travis Kelce
Schieffelin has a chance to be a red zone monster.
"He has elite football measurables that I believe will translate well," Swinney told ESPN. "I'm looking forward to helping him transition and build a football foundation that will give him a chance to not only help us at Clemson but also give him a chance to play pro football. It should be fun."
Schieffelin told ESPN he played quarterback in ninth grade before focusing exclusively on basketball.
He said he spoke with Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who played four years of basketball as a power forward at VCU before signing professionally with the Indianapolis Colts.
"We talked about what went into his decision to go the football route," Schieffelin said. "He helped me just knowing why he decided, and it made me decide to just give it a chance and see where I could take it."
Antonio Gates famously went from Kent State basketball to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Chargers tight end.
Schieffelin is just hoping to extend his Clemson career and see what happens.
"Maybe I'll be really good, maybe I'll be really bad," Schieffelin told ESPN. "It's something that was worth a shot. And being able to put a Clemson jersey on again is really special to me, and to do it this time in Death Valley is going to be amazing."
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