Clemson Coach Accuses Ole Miss of Tampering with Linebacker

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding of direct tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli during a press conference on Friday. Swinney said Golding contacted Ferrelli after he had signed with Clemson, pushing him to re-enter the transfer portal and join Ole Miss. The incident highlights growing tensions in college football's transfer rules.

Background

Luke Ferrelli played his redshirt freshman year at Cal last season. He made 91 tackles, with 38 solo stops. After the season, he entered the transfer portal. Clemson recruited him hard. On January 6, Ferrelli committed to the Tigers. He started classes there right away. But just 16 days later, he went back into the portal and signed with Ole Miss.

Swinney laid out the timeline in detail during his Friday news conference in Clemson, South Carolina. He said his staff followed all the rules. They hosted Ferrelli for a visit. His agent, Ryan Williams, and his dad joined him on campus. At 2:30 p.m., they verbally accepted Clemson's offer and committed.

Clemson general manager Jordan Sorrells got involved when issues came up. He texted Ole Miss general manager Austin Thomas to warn them off. Thomas replied that he had no part in it. He said Golding made his own calls. Sorrells then met Ferrelli in person. Ferrelli shared text messages from Golding.

"I know you're signed…. What's the buyout?" – Text from Pete Golding to Luke Ferrelli

Ferrelli told Sorrells that Golding sent a picture of a $1 million contract. Golding also had wide receiver Trinidad Chambliss call Ferrelli from his phone. Golding stayed on the line, urging Ferrelli to leave Clemson. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart called too. An Ole Miss assistant director of player personnel pushed for a Zoom call to talk contract details.

Key Details

Swinney walked reporters through the exact sequence of events. On Wednesday morning, Golding texted Ferrelli during his 8 a.m. class at Clemson. That text asked about the buyout in his Clemson deal. Minutes later, at 11:57 a.m., Ole Miss staff contacted Ferrelli's agent again.

By 12:14 p.m., Thomas and Sorrells spoke by phone. Sorrells repeated the warning. Thomas claimed he stayed out of it. At 12:30 p.m., Sorrells called the agent to check in. The agent said he was flying but texted back soon.

On January 16, the agent alerted Sorrells that Ole Miss raised their offer. They proposed two years for $2 million. Sorrells asked for proof, like screenshots, to report to the NCAA. The agent said no unless Clemson matched with an extra year and $1 million more. Clemson declined.

Timeline of Contacts

• January 6: Ferrelli signs with Clemson, starts classes.
• Wednesday morning: Golding texts Ferrelli in class about buyout, sends $1M contract photo.
• Chambliss calls; Golding joins to recruit.
• Dart calls Ferrelli.
• Staff pushes Zoom for contract talk.
• January 16: Offer jumps to $2M over two years.
• January 22: Ferrelli re-enters portal after calls from Clemson staff, including defensive coordinator Tom Allen.

At 7:20 p.m. on the day Ferrelli decided to leave, he spoke with Allen and Ben Boulware. He confirmed his plan. Clemson reported everything to the NCAA. Swinney called it 'blatant tampering.' He said other coaches have shared similar stories privately.

"There's tampering, and then there's blatant tampering." – Dabo Swinney

Swinney pointed out the irony. Ole Miss fought to keep their own defensive end out of the portal. They accused others of tampering with their players. Yet here they were, doing the same to Clemson.

What This Means

The transfer portal has changed college football. Players can move freely now. Schools sign them quick. But rules against contact before entry exist for a reason. Swinney said the system lacks teeth. No real punishment means no one follows the rules.

He compared it to the NFL. You can't sign with one team, practice a week, then jump for more money. Coaches build rosters expecting stability. Constant flips hurt programs. Swinney wants adult consequences for adult actions.

Clemson plans to pursue all options with the NCAA. They turned in texts, call logs, and details. Ole Miss has not commented publicly. Ferrelli now plays for the Rebels. He brings speed and tackling skills to their defense.

This case stands out because Swinney named names. Most coaches stay quiet. They worry about backlash or hypocrisy. Swinney holds firm on doing things right. He resists the portal more than most. Clemson signed 15 midyear transfers this cycle. They lost a few too.

Broader issues loom. Money flows through name, image, and likeness deals. Agents hold power. Players chase the best pay. Schools compete hard. Without enforcement, tampering grows. The NCAA faces pressure to act. Rules need updates, Swinney said. Governance requires accountability.

Ferrelli settles in Oxford. Clemson moves on. But the story spotlights cracks in the system. Coaches watch closely. They want fair play. Swinney's call echoes across the sport.