London Merritt made the move to Dabo Swinney’s Clemson in January after a single season with Deion Sanders’ Colorado program. His addition is sparking renewed enthusiasm for the Tigers, especially after a disappointing 2025 season.
Dabo Swinney Praises Transfer London Merritt After Move From Colorado
Clemson held its spring game on Saturday, and the annual exhibition showed several new players, including Merritt. He began the exhibition lined up behind starters Will Heldt and Jahiem Lawson but quickly made an impression when matched against Clemson’s second- and third-team offensive line. He proved both speed and power, finishing the game with four tackles, three of which were for a loss, including 2.5 sacks, along with a quarterback hit.
Swinney had nothing but praise for Merritt on Saturday, saying, “He’s a dude, and he’s got three years left. We needed somebody who was gonna help us right away at defensive end.”
MORE: Kalen DeBoer Doubles Down on Conor Talty Support Despite Alabama Fans’ Hate
Swinney’s endorsement of Merritt came two days after the former Colorado star opened up on why he left Coach Prime and Colorado.
“I just felt like it was just a sign,” Merritt said on Thursday. “I’m back here twice. And definitely it was just a lot better than where I was. And facility-wise, coaching-wise, I feel like it was just a better option for me. And for me to take that, get into that step to the next level. You know, they just have a history of putting guys to the league. So that’s my main objective. That’s all.”
Merritt was a former four-star recruit in Colorado’s 2025 class. He recorded 25 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and one sack last season, securing a 72.1 score from the PFSN College Football EDGE Impact Metric. His arrival adds depth to a Clemson defense that has been consistently successful under Swinney in developing players for the next level.
During the pregame radio broadcast for 2026 spring practice, Swinney reflected on Clemson’s energy and progress this spring.
“The guys have had a lot of enthusiasm… We have a lot to do. There’s a lot to get done, but they’ve showed up with the right mindset,” Swinney said, adding that spring practice has been “competitive.”
MORE: Matt Rhule Credits Anthony Colandrea’s Spark for Nebraska Shift After Dylan Raiola Exit
However, Clemson is working to rebuild fan trust following a disappointing 7-6 campaign in 2025. Attendance at Saturday’s spring game was estimated at 25,000 fans at Memorial Stadium, which is a noticeable drop from previous years: 35,000 in 2025, 47,000 in 2024, and 50,000 in 2023. It proves the challenge the program faces in reigniting its fan base.
Clemson will officially kick off the 2026 season on Sept. 5, traveling to Baton Rouge for a season-opening matchup against LSU.
