Clemson defensive tackle to transfer

TigerNet Staff by

TigerNet has learned that Clemson junior defensive tackle Scott Pagano has asked for his release from the program so he can play elsewhere next season.

Clemson released a statement on Friday afternoon from Dabo Swinney about Pagano transferring.

"I met with Scott Pagano yesterday," Swinney said. "We had a good talk and he told me about his intentions to be a graduate transfer for his final year of eligibility. I told him to think about it overnight."

Swinney knows that Pagano already has his degree and a National Championship under his belt during his four years at Clemson.

"We all wanted him to stay, but he said he had accomplished everything he wanted to do at Clemson," Swinney said. He came here to graduate and win a national championship and he achieved both within the last two months. He indicated to me that he wants to start his graduate degree and play his final year of college football, probably on the West Coast (Pagano is from Hawaii)."

"I wish him nothing but the best. Scott Pagano has been a fully committed person to the program. He has always been committed to do the best he could in everything. We will miss him and he will always be one of my players and will be a part of our Clemson family.”

Pagano has already graduated in December with a degree in sociology.

He played in 12 games in 2016 and started in four, playing 299 snaps with 31 tackles, four and ½ tackles for loss, and two sacks. He missed the final two regular-season games and the ACC Championship Game against Virginia Tech with a foot injury.

Pagano had 51 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures in 352 snaps over 15 games (nine starts) in 2015. During his freshman campaign of 2014, he had 10 tackles and one quarterback pressure in 54 snaps over four games. He redshirted in 2013.

Before Clemson, he was rated as the No. 104 player in the nation by Rivals.com and was the Lombardi Award winner from Rivals.com as the top defensive lineman in the Western region of the United States. The No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals, Pagano played in the U.S. Army All-American game. He was also ranked as the No. 1 player in Hawaii. He had 56 tackles, a school-record 32 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, six blocked kicks, six caused fumbles and three recovered fumbles as a senior. Recruited by Dan Brooks and Brent Venables.

Clemson's defensive line will still be stout this upcoming season with several high-caliber defensive linemen including Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Richard Yeargin, Austin Bryant, Jabril Robinson, Albert Huggins, Dexter Lawrence, and others.