Defensive tackle Scott Pagano, a 2013 Moanalua alumnus, has decided to transfer from Clemson for his final season.
Head coach Dabo Swinney released a statement to the media Friday, saying, “I met with Scott Pagano yesterday. 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.”
“We all wanted him to stay, but he said he had accomplished everything he wanted to do at Clemson. 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.”
“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 graduated in December, which allows him to play right away next season. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound DT started four of the 12 games he appeared in during his junior season and made 31 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Pagano is the second player from Hawaii to transfer from a Division I school this offseason, joining former Texas Tech starting DT Breiden Fehoko.
UH? Why not. . .
national championship, degree, but has zero commitment to the coach who gave him that.
all about himself like everyone else. limited playing time, so transfer out, leave your coach and teammates. bet he ends up at USC
fehoko ends up at BYU or Utah
Comeback to Hawaii with Fehoko and lead the Warriors back to the TOP. Local recruits will follow!!!!!!
@thnk1st
So the kid played and committed to the school for 3 years. That isn’t commitment? If so, please explain to all of us what is.
Then he wants to leave to start his master’s program. Nothing wrong with that and I applaud him.
What if the master’s program he wants to get into isn’t offered at Clemson? What do you expect him to do? Waste one year of studies taking classes he doesn’t need or isn’t interested in.
@education first, no one will know what his graduate studies will be so will never know if clemson offers it anyway. its all about playing time to for NFL. its not about academics its all about playing time. wake up do you acutally believe its all about his graduate studies? if so i have land for sale on rabbit island.
senior year and he doesn’t want to be a back up underclassmen
I love how you make absolute statements with no information.
There have been numerous athletes who have transferred due to graduating early and schools not offering the degree they want. You can easily research and you will find over 25 years of data.
Like I said, it could be for the NFL, it could be for playing time, it could be for his graduate studies. Hell it could be that he wants to experience a new school. I don’t know.
What I do know is that I’m not ignorant to make statements based on having no information to support my argument.
And yes, I’d love to buy land on Rabbit Island. Then I can be your neighbor. Maybe Scott can join us too.
Now I’m not saying this is what is happening. What I’m saying is how does anyone know without barely any information and then make accusations without providing any evidence.
It’s all about PT and getting enough film for the NFL scouts. Nothing more, nothing less. And he will go where they need immediate help at DT.
Plus four years in Pickens County South Carolina would be enough for anyone.
The kid graduates from a D1 University in 3 years and you clowns believe education has nothing to do with his decision. C’mon man. Give the kid some credit.
Cool that he wants to play in Hawaii bowl
Lets just say he goin for his masters just in case he dnt get enough PT in the leauge and he has somthing to fall back on. . .
he didn’t graduate in 3 years. This year he is a redshirt junior. so he spent 4 school years at clemson. good for him to finish his degree
like Hodad says…its all about playing time!
UH lineman from Alabama grad and transfer to UH. NO playing time at bama
My bad. He graduated in 3 years and 3 months than. Didn’t know we was getting all technical and shet.
“We all wanted him to stay, but he said he had accomplished everything he wanted to do at Clemson. 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.”
Assuming this is true, and why would anyone think different, it’s truly unfortunate that some people are basically calling the kid a liar. Or he is unethical for not disclosing his true intentions.
That is sad.
Don’t know what this kid to have complete strangers dissecting every move he makes
And he started about 1/3 of the games last year and people are saying he’s leaving to get more playing time. If playing time was such an issue, why didn’t he leave after either of the previous 2 years when he played far less? It sounds like a lot of jealousy and hatred. I agree with you AOK.
don’t give me that BS. its all political correctness nowadays. clemson just won a national championship, why not stay and help build for another championship. can always start on his graduate studies at Clemson. i’m sure CLEMSON has graduate classes. not accusing his of lying or anything like that. just one american citizen right to freedom of speech. Seriously, do you honestly think he is leaving for his graduate studies? wake up. clemson has graduate classes the same as anywhere else, including the west coast schools. part time player looking for more time. that is all that this is. every single college graduate transfer has the same reason. all looking to play more.
@thnk1st says, “not accusing his of lying or anything like that. just one american citizen right to freedom of speech.”
Um, yeah you are. The kid said he is leaving to pursue his graduate studies. You are saying that is BS. So you are calling him a liar. At least be real and say you think he’s a liar.
Also, Clemson has graduate studies. But not all schools have the same graduate programs. And if he has the opportunity to go to USC or UCLA versus Clemson for school, then that’s a no brainer. And since the kid isn’t guaranteed to make the NFL, getting a high level degree is a very smart play.
When you get to the root of this, the real question should be, “why do you care so much what this kid does, and why do you accuse him of being a liar?”
@professor “watcher” ok ok you got me, i care sooo much cuz i’m a overweight loser who got cut from pop warner football every year. in fact i got cut for trying out for waterboy for my high school football team 30 years ago. LOL all I’m saying is take a look at all the so called graduate transfers man!! its for playing time. you think noah allen came here for UH’s academic graduate program? or was it to get some playing time vs sitting the bench at UCLA. come on now you can’t be that stupid. Posa transferred from alabama, shroeder from Duke, come on now, do you think UH has a special graduate program that DUKE doesn’t have. maybe in hawaiian studies!!
that is all i’m saying man, i don’t know pagan, and could care less, but my point is its all politically correct and its the “all about me” generation. I rather a kid be upfront and say, i’m looking to be a full time player. why would you leave a national championship team when you have one more year to shine. the whole nfl world knows about Clemson. so please tell me professor watcher,do you honestly believe that he is transferring to find his graduate program? BE HONEST!! again, its not about this particular individual. like i said i don’t know him, and i could care less. I like your thinking, so i’ll be waiting to be enlightened.
you think noah allen came here for UH’s academic graduate program
First of all I know Noah pretty well. Last week we ate at the CPK. Noah was always fascinated by Hawaii and one of the biggest reasons he came to Hawaii was to experience living in Hawaii.
Please get your facts correct. You make assumptions but offer little evidence to support them.
I am not saying that no one transfer due to playing time. But, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt instead of calling a kid a liar behind a fake name. But then again, I pretty much guarantee you would never say to Scott’s face that he is lying.
All J Queens speculating about his choice to leave. Get a Grip. Pursuing his Master’s Degree in a field of study might lead him to a University where a program for a career might be best. For example, should he want to pursue his Master’s in Physical or Occupational therapy. USC has the #1 program in the nation. At the same time if he has eligibility left, why not play for the USC Trojans. Why does it seem like a big deal when a student athlete chooses to transfer for his Master’s as oppose to a kid leaving early for the draft and not getting their bachelor’s degree? Remember Mike Williams and Maurice Clarett? At least Troy Polamalu set the example and got his degree!