CLEMSON — At this moment, C.D. Davies is key to Clemson's success.As general manager of the booster-funded collective 110 Society, Davies assisted Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in retaining most of his roster ahead of the 2025 season. He helped to put forward competitive name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals that staved off poachers from deep-pocketed schools.But it's entirely possible an offseason of uncommon success — with only a handful of athletes transferring out of Clemson, and a rare trio on the way in — could be something of a grand finale for Davies. Because if revenue-sharing between universities and athletes begins in July, as expected, and pay-for-play NIL deals are stamped out by new rules, as planned, 110 Society will cease operations. Davies, a longtime banking executive who has spent his pre-retirement years boosting his alma mater's NIL efforts, would gladly not spend his Saturdays assessing players' market value."It'd be nice to be a football fan again and not have to run through calculations in my head every time I see somebody score a touchdown," Davies said.Clemson officials very much hope they are in the "back 20 percent of insanity," as Swinney put it, and the university's NIL operation has waded through an unrestrained era of athlete pay dominated by collectives. Revenue-sharing is coming, and it promises to bring a new operating procedure.Davies, however, is a "worrier." He knows there is no guarantee the NCAA's settlement of antitrust lawsuits will be approved, in full, by Judge Claudia Wilken in April. The deal includes a much-scrutinized provision for a clearinghouse to vet third-party deals and assure they are "fair market value." There is a chance 110 Society exists beyond July, to help Clemson keep up with the NIL collective Joneses, and Davies can't retire."You've got to have all your irons in the fire so you can be nimble," Davies said.There isn't 100 percent clarity on what's next, but Davies thinks Clemson has a clearer picture of how to maneuver in the NIL space as long as it continues in its current form. The football team's offseason of retention speaks to that. Clemson football's general manager, Jordan Sorrells, came into December with a good understanding of how much each player should be paid, not only in NIL from 110 Society but in revenue-sharing deals with the university that are being signed ahead of the House settlement's expected approval.There are separate NIL and rev-share contracts, but they are presented to athletes as a total package. There were even clauses built into the 110 Society's deals, Davies said, which say the collective will pay athletes additional dollars if the settlement falls apart and revenue-sharing doesn't start in July. It was a "hectic" week, Davies said, after Clemson was bounced from the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21, just a week before the transfer portal closed. Deals were hammered out during Christmas. But it was mostly "smooth," he added. The Tigers secured poach-worthy talents like D-linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods and wideouts Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, receiver Antonio Williams, and offensive tackle Blake Miller decided to stay at Clemson rather than jump to the NFL. "The communication was nailed down very well," Davies said. "You see it with all the people staying and being bought in."Clemson lost about a dozen players to the transfer portal in each of the previous two offseasons, which is still a relatively small total. Five scholarship departures, though, is infinitesimal. Of the 70 teams ranked in On3's transfer portal tracker, only 10 have single-digit losses. Only four programs have five players transferring out or fewer, including Clemson, SMU, and CFP semifinalists Penn State and Notre Dame.Clemson and its collective are in lockstep, which wasn't necessarily the case when NIL started. NCAA rules and South Carolina law built a firewall between universities and collectives — and Clemson had two, TigerImpact and Dear Old Clemson, which competed for the attention of donors who were still receiving calls from the school's athletics fundraising arm IPTAY. Fans wanted to give money to IPTAY because that's where they receive priority points for tickets and parking spots.Now, there is just 110 Society, and state law changed to allow IPTAY to fundraise on the collective's behalf and offer priority points for NIL donations. A promise of points has bolstered Clemson's NIL war chest, along with an anonymous donation in November of $3 million to "emphasize" the points program. Davies knows there have been frustrations with Clemson's NIL approach, at times, because the university has been "reactive" as it tries to follow an ever-changing set of rules, "skating to where they think the puck is going to be."But plans are coming to fruition.In the fall, athletic director Graham Neff announced a new revenue-generating arm, Clemson Ventures, to bolster the athletic department's coffers. That entity includes an in-house agency, run by Everett Sports Marketing, which will help athletes find "fair-market" NIL deals beyond revenue-sharing dollars. If the main thrust of NIL post-settlement is just athletes being paid to represent brands, not collectives essentially paying athletes salaries, then 110 Society isn't necessary. Clemson itself can facilitate brand deals.Neff has innovated for what's to come, but Davies also credits Swinney for sticking to his principles. His athletes came to Clemson because they were sold on relationships, not a transaction. They tend to think long-term, Davies said, which has made roster retention simpler. "I'm not worried about one person popping up and saying, 'You know, X, Y, Z school is going to give me five times more money,' because that's just not something we've seen," Davies said. "We've always felt like we have to be competitive in (NIL), and it's got to make sense. But it comes from the top (with Swinney), that relationship has a lot to do with retention. "We're not a program where we push people out to bring people in. Stability is really important."Davies is perfectly fine being pushed out, though, if it means the settlement passed, rules are in place, and collectives are less relevant.It's not a certainty. But it's a preferred outcome."It's funny, I run a collective but I'm not really in agreement with collectives," Davies said. "If your collective has a bunch of money, and they're at odds with what's going on at the university, or they don't agree, that could be a problem. Luckily, we don't have any of that."I just think having third parties out of this will be best when it's the right time."

Clemson's NIL collective helped Dabo Swinney retain his 2025 roster. But what about 2026?

“It’d be nice to be a football fan again and not have to run through calculations in my head every time I see somebody score a touchdown,” Davies said.”I just think having third parties out of this will be best when it’s the right time.”Davies is perfectly fine being pushed out, though, if it means […]

“It’d be nice to be a football fan again and not have to run through calculations in my head every time I see somebody score a touchdown,” Davies said.”I just think having third parties out of this will be best when it’s the right time.”Davies is perfectly fine being pushed out, though, if it means the settlement passed, rules are in place, and collectives are less relevant.

Davies, a longtime banking executive who has spent his pre-retirement years boosting his alma mater’s NIL efforts, would gladly not spend his Saturdays assessing players’ market value.

As general manager of the booster-funded collective 110 Society, Davies assisted Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in retaining most of his roster ahead of the 2025 season. He helped to put forward competitive name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals that staved off poachers from deep-pocketed schools.If the main thrust of NIL post-settlement is just athletes being paid to represent brands, not collectives essentially paying athletes salaries, then 110 Society isn’t necessary. Clemson itself can facilitate brand deals.Neff has innovated for what’s to come, but Davies also credits Swinney for sticking to his principles. His athletes came to Clemson because they were sold on relationships, not a transaction. They tend to think long-term, Davies said, which has made roster retention simpler.

“I’m not worried about one person popping up and saying, ‘You know, X, Y, Z school is going to give me five times more money,’ because that’s just not something we’ve seen,” Davies said. “We’ve always felt like we have to be competitive in (NIL), and it’s got to make sense. But it comes from the top (with Swinney), that relationship has a lot to do with retention.The football team’s offseason of retention speaks to that.

“The communication was nailed down very well,” Davies said. “You see it with all the people staying and being bought in.”Clemson and its collective are in lockstep, which wasn’t necessarily the case when NIL started. NCAA rules and South Carolina law built a firewall between universities and collectives — and Clemson had two, TigerImpact and Dear Old Clemson, which competed for the attention of donors who were still receiving calls from the school’s athletics fundraising arm IPTAY.There is a chance 110 Society exists beyond July, to help Clemson keep up with the NIL collective Joneses, and Davies can’t retire.

There isn’t 100 percent clarity on what’s next, but Davies thinks Clemson has a clearer picture of how to maneuver in the NIL space as long as it continues in its current form.”You’ve got to have all your irons in the fire so you can be nimble,” Davies said.Clemson lost about a dozen players to the transfer portal in each of the previous two offseasons, which is still a relatively small total. Five scholarship departures, though, is infinitesimal.

In the fall, athletic director Graham Neff announced a new revenue-generating arm, Clemson Ventures, to bolster the athletic department’s coffers. That entity includes an in-house agency, run by Everett Sports Marketing, which will help athletes find “fair-market” NIL deals beyond revenue-sharing dollars.

Because if revenue-sharing between universities and athletes begins in July, as expected, and pay-for-play NIL deals are stamped out by new rules, as planned, 110 Society will cease operations.

But plans are coming to fruition.Davies, however, is a “worrier.” He knows there is no guarantee the NCAA’s settlement of antitrust lawsuits will be approved, in full, by Judge Claudia Wilken in April. The deal includes a much-scrutinized provision for a clearinghouse to vet third-party deals and assure they are “fair market value.”

Revenue-sharing is coming, and it promises to bring a new operating procedure.Fans wanted to give money to IPTAY because that’s where they receive priority points for tickets and parking spots.

Clemson officials very much hope they are in the “back 20 percent of insanity,” as Swinney put it, and the university’s NIL operation has waded through an unrestrained era of athlete pay dominated by collectives.Now, there is just 110 Society, and state law changed to allow IPTAY to fundraise on the collective’s behalf and offer priority points for NIL donations. A promise of points has bolstered Clemson’s NIL war chest, along with an anonymous donation in November of million to “emphasize” the points program.

There are separate NIL and rev-share contracts, but they are presented to athletes as a total package. There were even clauses built into the 110 Society’s deals, Davies said, which say the collective will pay athletes additional dollars if the settlement falls apart and revenue-sharing doesn’t start in July.But it was mostly “smooth,” he added. The Tigers secured poach-worthy talents like D-linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods and wideouts Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, receiver Antonio Williams, and offensive tackle Blake Miller decided to stay at Clemson rather than jump to the NFL.It’s not a certainty. But it’s a preferred outcome.

But it’s entirely possible an offseason of uncommon success — with only a handful of athletes transferring out of Clemson, and a rare trio on the way in — could be something of a grand finale for Davies.It was a “hectic” week, Davies said, after Clemson was bounced from the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21, just a week before the transfer portal closed. Deals were hammered out during Christmas.

“We’re not a program where we push people out to bring people in. Stability is really important.”

Of the 70 teams ranked in On3’s transfer portal tracker, only 10 have single-digit losses. Only four programs have five players transferring out or fewer, including Clemson, SMU, and CFP semifinalists Penn State and Notre Dame.CLEMSON — At this moment, C.D. Davies is key to Clemson’s success.Clemson football’s general manager, Jordan Sorrells, came into December with a good understanding of how much each player should be paid, not only in NIL from 110 Society but in revenue-sharing deals with the university that are being signed ahead of the House settlement’s expected approval.”It’s funny, I run a collective but I’m not really in agreement with collectives,” Davies said. “If your collective has a bunch of money, and they’re at odds with what’s going on at the university, or they don’t agree, that could be a problem. Luckily, we don’t have any of that.Davies knows there have been frustrations with Clemson’s NIL approach, at times, because the university has been “reactive” as it tries to follow an ever-changing set of rules, “skating to where they think the puck is going to be.”