Dabo Swinney, Clemson Receive Bad News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Dec 3, 2025 11:54 AM ET

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers entered Week 1 of the 2025 college football season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll. However, eight games into the season, they were just 3-5, ending their College Football Playoff hopes.

Facing the possibility of not reaching bowl eligibility for the first time since 1998, Clemson salvaged the season. The Tigers won four straight to end the regular season, giving them a 7-5 record.

Despite the turnaround, though, their struggles scared off several talented high school recruits. Four players in the 2026 cycle have decommitted, with the latest being safety Kaden Gebhardt.

Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks to an official.© Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On the first day recruits can sign, Rivals reporter Hayes Fawcett reported that Gebhardt flipped his commitment from Clemson to the Ohio State Buckeyes and signed with his local team on the first day of the early signing period.

"BREAKING: Class of 2026 Safety Kaden Gebhardt has Flipped his Commitment from Clemson to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals The 6’2 200 S had been Committed to the Tigers since March," Fawcett wrote.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 Safety Kaden Gebhardt has Flipped his Commitment from Clemson to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’2 200 S had been Committed to the Tigers since March⁰⁰“Ohio’s where my heart is! I’m staying home! Go Bucks!”⁰⁰https://t.co/xfGstpFjWt pic.twitter.com/2Z3pDFGImp
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2025

It's a disappointing loss for the Tigers, as Rivals Industry Rankings place Gebhardt as a three-star recruit and the No. 47 safety in the nation. As a senior at Olentangy High School, he racked up 106 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight pass deflections and two interceptions.

The safety had already shown tremendous interest in the Buckeyes, taking eight visits. He's also just six miles from Ohio State's campus in Columbus.

Following Gebhardt's decommitment, Clemson's 2026 recruiting class has 19 players, ranking No. 4 in the ACC and No. 19 in the nation. They now have just one safety in the form of four-star Kentavion Anderson.

As Swinney prepares to finish the season without double-digit wins for just the fourth time since 2009, another decommitment adds more challenges to Clemson's upcoming offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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