Clemson football kicker enters transfer portal, offers hint on position battle

A Clemson football kicker is leaving the program.

Walk-on kicker Liam Boyd is entering the NCAA transfer portal, he tweeted Monday.

Boyd, a redshirt freshman who joined Clemson as a walk-on in the summer of 2022, had been competing with Robert Gunn III for the Tigers’ starting kicker position.

In last month’s spring game at Memorial Stadium, Boyd made a 51-yard field goal and an extra point for the Orange team (primarily composed of second-teamers) and averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff with three touchbacks.

Boyd’s transfer is significant because it essentially confirms that Gunn, a redshirt freshman who’s on scholarship, has won Clemson’s kicker competition. Gunn signed with the Tigers as a three-star 2022 recruit and appeared in three games last year behind record-setting kicker B.T. Potter.

Potter, who signed a undrafted free agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the weekend, finished his five-year Clemson career as one of the most productive kickers in school history.

Potter tied three other players for Clemson’s career games record (69) and made a school-record 73 field goals, 234 extra points and nine field goals of 50-plus yards.

Gunn played in relief of Potter against Georgia Tech (where he made the game’s final PAT), Furman and Louisiana Tech. He recorded touchbacks on all five of his kickoffs. In the spring game, he was 2-3 on extra points (his lone miss was blocked) and averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks.

Boyd, who prepped at Asheville High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, didn’t appear in a game in 2022. In a tweet, he thanked coach Dabo Swinney and director of special teams Bill Spiers for “giving me the opportunity to play for Clemson.”

“I want to thank the Clemson football coaches, staff and my teammates for supporting me on my journey,” Boyd said. “After a lot of thought, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”

Speaking at Prowl & Growl Tour event ahead of Boyd’s transfer, Swinney said the kicker “wasn’t very competitive last fall” but “absolutely” had a chance to beat out Gunn as the starting kicker after a strong spring.

“He and Robert separated in spring, for sure,” Swinney said April 18, per TigerNet. “Those two kind of separated from the other guys and made it a two-man competition in the latter part of spring. We’ll see how that carries over during the latter part of the fall.”

Boyd’s transfer leaves Clemson with three true kickers on its 2023 roster: Gunn and walk-ons Quinn Castner and Hogan Morton. Aidan Swanson, Clemson’s starting punter, can also kick field goals if needed.

The Tigers also hold a commitment from 2024 Hough (N.C.) High School kicker Nolan Hauser, who will join the team on scholarship next fall.

Boyd is Clemson’s second 2023 spring transfer portal entry, as veteran defensive back Malcolm Greene entered the portal last week. But as a non-scholarship player, Boyd’s departure doesn’t affect Clemson’s scholarship count.

Clemson remains at 87 scholarships, two above the NCAA maximum of 85, and could still end up pulling scholarships from two preferred walk-ons to get under the limit ahead of the 2023 season opener.

Clemson football 2022-23 transfers

• LB Sergio Allen (Cal)

• WR Dacari Collins (NC State)

• DE Kevin Swint (Georgia State)

• QB Billy Wiles (Southern Miss)

• LB LaVonta Bentley (Colorado)

• CB Fred Davis II (UCF)

• RB Kobe Pace (Virginia)

• QB DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State)

• WR E.J. Williams (Indiana)

• DL Etinosa Reuben (Georgia Tech)

• DB Malcolm Greene (TBD)

• K Liam Boyd (TBD)