Four-star defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell has officially decommitted from Clemson University. Last week, he announced his decision on X.
“After much prayer and counsel, I am announcing my decommitment from Clemson University,” Campbell expressed in a statement. “At this time, I am continuing to cultivate relationships with schools that align with my values and ambitions. I understand this may come as a surprise, but I ask that you respect my, my family’s, and my coaches’ wishes as we navigate this transition.
Campbell had initially committed to the Tigers in January, selecting the ACC program over offers from Florida State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. As he rethinks his options, the Southern defensive tackle is already planned to visit Tennessee and North Carolina officially. These two schools appear to be the main contenders in his recruitment moving forward.
Ranked among the top 100 in ESPN300, Campbell stands as one of the top three recruits in North Carolina.
Despite Campbell’s decommitment, Clemson retains a solid group of talent in its 2025 recruiting class, featuring six ESPN300 commits. Nonetheless, many observers feel it marks a significant departure from the Clemson program that once reigned supreme during recruiting seasons. The Athletic’s Manny Navarro didn’t hold back his views regarding the current state of the program during a recent interview on Sirius XM radio.
“I just think Dabo’s cut himself off from the reality that you need to be able to find proven players who can come in and replace somebody that you lose,” Navarro remarked. “I look at Clemson, and I think this is a program — they’ve taken a step back to what they were before Dabo got there. In my mind, that’s what they are. They are the Clemson before Dabo got there.”
For context, the Clemson Tigers, under head coach Tommy Bowden, reached the postseason every year except for 2004. While that achievement is noteworthy, the transformation of Tigers football under Swinney is distinctly apparent.
Image Source: Isaiah Campbell @ Instagram
