Ian Schieffelin talks to ESPN about the call he got from Dabo Swinney to play football
Ian Schieffelin talks to ESPN about the call he got from Dabo Swinney to play football
Ian Schieffelin made it official on Friday — he's trading in his basketball sneakers for football cleats, joining Clemson's football program as a tight end for the 2025 season.
The All-ACC forward, fresh off a standout senior year with Clemson basketball, confirmed what had been rumored all week. He's stepping into a new challenge — one sparked by a phone call from Dabo Swinney just two weeks ago.
'I was training for the next level in basketball,' Schieffelin told ESPN. 'Then Coach Swinney laid out this opportunity, and it really got my attention. The idea of putting on a Clemson jersey again — in Death Valley this time — was just too good to pass up.'
Schieffelin had long been admired by Swinney as a potential football talent, but he wasn't sure the coach was serious until the recent call.
'That conversation changed everything,' he said. 'It felt like a real shot to stick around, contribute to a championship-caliber team, and try something that's always been in the back of my mind.'
Schieffelin played football growing up in Georgia at Grayson High School — the same powerhouse program that produced several Clemson players, including former teammate Phil Mafah. Now, he's hoping to join the small group of college athletes who've made the jump from basketball to football with success.
'I don't know how it'll go,' he admitted. 'Maybe I'll be great, maybe not — but it's worth finding out. Getting to represent Clemson again, especially on the football field, is something I'm really looking forward to.'
While Schieffelin hasn't ruled out a future in basketball, his focus for now is on this next chapter — one that begins under the lights of Death Valley.
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