Breaking news: Clemson Tigers football lands 5 star LB over Alabama and LSU Tigers welcome.

Clemson signed former Alabama edge rusher Jeremiah Alexanderm from the transfer portal Wednesday to help fill one of its biggest needs on defense.

The Tigers have now brought in three players through the portal, including Purdue defensive end Will Heldt and Missouri State receiver Tristan Smith.

Coach Dabo Swinney had been criticized for his reluctance to use the portal in the past, particularly after Clemson signed zero players from the portal in the 2024 cycle. Swinney, however, has said, “We’re going to do what’s best for Clemson, whether it’s get a portal guy or take a high school kid, and that’s a year-to-year thing.”

Alexander, a former five-star recruit in the class of 2022, played in high school with current Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods in Alabaster, Alabama. The two won a state championship together in 2021.

In three seasons at Alabama, Alexander saw limited playing time and alternated between outside and inside linebacker.

Swinney fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin earlier this week and has not hired a replacement yet.

Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. declares for NFL draft

Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., a first-team All-Big Ten selection who helped the Ducks to a league title, has declared for the 2025 NFL draft, announcing his plan Wednesday on social media.

Conerly started the past two seasons for the Ducks, who won the Big Ten in their first season in the league and earned the No. 1 seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Conerly allowed only five total pressures in protecting quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman Trophy finalist.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists Conerly as the No. 6 draft-eligible offensive tackle. A Seattle native, Conerly came to Oregon as ESPN’s No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 31 overall recruit in the 2022 class.

As a freshman, Conerly appeared in all 13 games for Oregon and caught a touchdown pass against Colorado. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.

After a historic season, Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty is declaring for the 2025 NFL draft, he announced Tuesday.

“The opportunity to play in the NFL is a dream of mine,” Jeanty wrote in social media post. “I’m proud to represent Boise State and all of those who have helped me along the way at the next level.”

In 14 games this season, Jeanty totaled 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging seven yards per carry on 374 carries. Jeanty’s rushing total is the second highest for a running back in FBS history, behind only Barry Sanders’ 1988 campaign (2,628 yards).

The junior is projected as the top running back in the upcoming draft, according to ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid.

Jeanty, 21, has had a unique path to the pros. The Jacksonville, Florida, native moved to a naval base in Naples, Italy, at age 12 and played football there for one season as a high school freshman. He returned stateside and played high school football in Texas for three years before committing to the Broncos.

Jeanty saw limited snaps during his freshman campaign in Boise but made a leap in his sophomore season (1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns) that set up his iconic junior year.

It was clear once the 2024 season began that Jeanty was going to be the fulcrum of the Broncos’ offense. In the season opener, Jeanty had 267 yards and six touchdowns. He didn’t look back, barreling his way through nearly every defender and defense he saw on his way to jaw-dropping runs and a College Football Playoff appearance.

After carrying the ball a whopping 750 times over three seasons, Jeanty finished his college career with 4,769 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns.