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Western Kentucky OF Ryan Wideman commits to Clemson out of NCAA transfer portal

Danby: Daniel Hager06/11/25DanielHagerOn3
Western-Kentucky-OF-Ryan-Wideman-commits-Clemson-out-of-NCAA-transfer-portal
via Wideman's X account (@RyanWideman03)

Clemson has picked up yet another commitment from the Transfer Portal in Western Kentucky junior center fielder Ryan Wideman. Wideman, who was On3’s sixth best player remaining in the portal, announced the move on X Wednesday afternoon.

The Marietta, GA native started 60 games for Western this season, hitting for a .398 batting average with 20 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs, 68 RBI, a .652 SLG% and a .466 OB%. In his lone season at the Hill, Wideman was named C-USA Player and Newcomer of the Year, along with being named All-C-USA First Team.

Wideman is Clemson’s sixth portal add so far, joining outfielder Bryce Clavon (Georgia), outfielder Ty Dalley (Mercer), shortstop Tyler Lichtenberger (Appalachian State), right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson (Catawba College) and right-handed pitcher Ariston Veasey (Alabama).

The star center fielder was instrumental in Western Kentucky‘s first run to the NCAA Tournament since 2009. Wideman was 5-18 with two home runs and four RBI in the Conference-USA Tournament, which helped the Hilltoppers knock off Jacksonville State in the championship game.

Western was assigned to the Oxford Regional, where Wideman shined at the plate with a 3-5 game in a season-ending 8-6 loss to Regional host Ole Miss. He now takes the next step to the power-four level, joining a Clemson team that hosted a Regional this season.

Clemson will be rebuilding this season, as program cornerstones Cam Cannarella, Dominic Listi and Andrew Ciufo will be departing from the program. Wideman will replace Cannarella in center field, which sounds a lot easier than it looks. Cannarella had emerged as one of the best outfielders in college baseball over his three seasons at Clemson, hitting for a career .360 average with 54 doubles and 159 RBI.

In the span of just one season, Wideman has made his way from JUCO to the ACC. Prior to joining Conference-USA and Western Kentucky prior to this season, he spent two seasons at Georgia Highlands College. There, he hit for a .423 average with 22 home runs, 39 doubles and 117 RBI. He was named a Third Team JUCO All-American in 2023, a First Team JUCO All-American in 2024 and ranked sixth nationally with 48 stolen bases in 2024.

Clemson head coach Erik Bakich is bringing in one of the best transfer classes in the country heading into his fourth season in charge, where he’s led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament Regionals and one Super Regional.