Note: The following appears in the Syracuse football gameday program.
Senior wide receiver Tristan Smith joined the Tigers ahead of the 2025 season and has already made an impression with the receiving corps. Originally from LaGrange, Ga., Smith began his college career at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. After two years at the junior college level, Smith transferred to Southeast Missouri State, an FCS program. Smith broke out for the Redhawks, totaling 76 receptions for 934 yards and six touchdowns.
“Hearing from Clemson when I entered the transfer portal was a really unexpected thing. I knew they didn’t recruit a ton of guys from the portal. It made me feel really accomplished that they reached out.”
Smith became the first scholarship non-quarterback transfer to commit to Clemson since the transfer portal’s creation in 2018.
“Coming from a JUCO, it was always a dream of mine to play FBS or for a big-time program. Once I had the opportunity to come here, it was a no-brainer, and I knew this is where I wanted to be. Coach (Dabo) Swinney told me in his office that he wanted me to come here, and I said right there that I was in.”
Smith’s football career began in seventh grade, but he said playing other sports helped him become the football player he is today.
“With starting football so late, the sports I played growing up all correlated to getting better at football. I played basketball, which helped with my jumping ability, and ran track to get faster.”
Even with a relatively small class of incoming transfers, Smith said the team environment was very welcoming.
“They treat us like any other player. There’s a lot of new guys every year, and it’s been a great group to be around every day.”
Smith joined a wide receiver group that features a lot of talent and returned the vast majority of its production from the 2024 season. He credited the wide receiver room with being competitive and helping each other get better.
“We work together every day to work on our games and push each other. Working with those guys strives me to push myself to learn or work on some skills that will help me on the field. It helps that we have many different types of receivers, guys with speed or guys who can catch the jump ball, so I try to learn from all of them.”
Smith said he wants his teammates to know him as a guy who they enjoy being around, and someone who is grateful for the opportunity to play football at Clemson.
“I tell different people here all the time that they don’t realize how good we have it. With my background and coming from smaller schools, the facilities here and the day-to-day life we get here is unbelievable. College is only four or five years, and football can be taken away from you at any point, so I’m really grateful to get to be here every day.”
Of all the new experiences Smith has had as a Tiger, he said one of the most valuable is listening to Swinney’s speeches.
“I have a book at home of quotes from him. That’s how you know he is truly one of the greats…you’ll listen to him and he will say something that will completely change how you think about something. He holds everyone accountable and you can tell he wants the best for each of us.”
As he finishes his college football career, Smith said he wants to be remembered as a great teammate and player who took advantage of every opportunity he was given.
