4-star Georgia RB a big fan of Spiller

A standout running back from the Peach State, who has already collected a handful of Power Five offers, had the chance to showcase his talent at the Dabo Swinney Camp last month. Stockbridge High School (Ga.) four-star running back Jayden “Duke” …

A standout running back from the Peach State, who has already collected a handful of Power Five offers, had the chance to showcase his talent at the Dabo Swinney Camp last month.

Stockbridge High School (Ga.) four-star running back Jayden “Duke” Scott — a 5-foot-10, 203-pound pound rising junior in the class of 2024 – participated in one of the first sessions of the Swinney Camp earlier this summer.

“It went really well,” Scott told The Clemson Insider regarding last month’s Swinney Camp experience. “I had a really good experience, actually. I was able to work with both of my position coaches (CJ Spiller and Andrew Zow) and had a good talk with them. I learned a good bit at camp.”

What was Scott able to hear from both Spiller and Zow?

“I got really good feedback,” he said. “Not only the positives from my game but also just some little things to work on…they gave me really good feedback and we had some really good talks.”

Scott is a huge fan of Spiller’s coaching style — focused more on uplifting student-athletes rather than putting them down. He can tell that Spiller cares about the kids and the players that he coaches.

“I really like Coach Spiller,” Scott added. “He’s a great guy. He brings energy and he motivates you to want to be better.”

Clemson’s running backs coach did discuss a potential scholarship offer with Scott. While an offer doesn’t appear to be imminent, the Peach State running back knows that Clemson, which has yet to offer a rising junior at his position, is being patient when it comes to the class of 2024.

“He told me that I’m still a young guy, but he’s working on building a relationship with me,” Scott said. “He’s definitely building a relationship and we’re still staying in touch. I guess in my junior year, that’s when we should be looking for an offer.”

With that said, what would a potential offer from Clemson mean for Scott and his recruitment?

“It would be a big offer for sure,” he said. “I really like the school. I’ve been liking the school since I was a young guy. It would be big for me and definitely something to consider.”

Between Clemson and Tennessee, Scott only camped at two schools this summer He also visited Wake Forest, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisville and Western Kentucky.

It was important for Scott to get back on the recruiting trail this summer after he fractured his foot during the second game of his sophomore season. Scott was medically cleared to return in Week 9, but his high school took a cautious approach to bring him back from a significant lower-body injury.

Now a year older, he’s hoping that he’s able to take his game to the next level this upcoming season and maintain a clean bill of health.

“I would say I’m an explosive back with great vision,” Scott said when asked to describe himself as a player. “I always see a hole and have the ability to make big plays. I don’t get tackled by the first man.”

— Photo for this article courtesy of Jayden Scott.

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4-star Sunshine State DB will be at Clemson next month

The Clemson Insider has learned that a top Sunshine State prospect will be on campus come March 5. Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.) four-star Tavoy Feagin has recently been in contact with Clemson offensive analyst Andrew Zow, who invited him to come …

The Clemson Insider has learned that a top Sunshine State prospect will be on campus come March 5.

Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.) four-star Tavoy Feagin has recently been in contact with Clemson offensive analyst Andrew Zow, who invited him to come to The Valley, so other members of Clemson’s coaching staff can watch the top safety prospect in person.

Feagin — a 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore— ranks as the No. 5 safety in the class of 2024, per 247Sports. He’s never been to Clemson before, so March’s visit will be a first for he and his family.

“I’m super excited to get up to Clemson,” Feagin told TCI. “It’s truly a blessing to have a school like that looking forward to seeing me and stuff. I just can’t wait to visit.”

When asked to describe himself as a player, Feagin used one word: “aggressive.” This past season, Feagin had 29 total tackles (13 for loss), three PBUs, an interception and a forced fumble.

Feagin first got in contact with Zow, a former University of Alabama quarterback and head coach at Sylacauga (Ala.) High School, following his sophomore season

With Feagin only being a sophomore, the contact he has with college coaches has to be mediated through his head coach.

Clemson coaches have stopped by Carrollwood Day before though, as the Tigers have previously shown interest in Feagin’s teammates — 2023 four-star offensive lineman Clay Wedin and 2024 four-star wideout Bredell Richardson — in addition to Feagin himself.

It’s still relatively early in Feagin’s recruitment process. He’s keeping all of his options open as he enjoys the process, even as he continues to add high-profile offers each and every day. Since the end of last month, Feagin has picked up offers from Oklahoma, Florida State, Oregon, Nebraska and Ole Miss.

“It’s truly a blessing to have all these offers and schools looking at me,” he said. “It just really shows how much work I’ve put in and it’s starting to pay off. 2022 is starting pretty well (for me) right now.”

In addition to visiting Clemson next month, Feagin plans on checking out Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

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Andrew Zow discusses Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, Jeremy Pruitt as Vols’ head coach

Andrew Zow discusses Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, Jeremy Pruitt as Vols’ head coach.

Tennessee held a seven-game winning streak over Alabama from 1995-2001.

During that stretch Alabama quarterback Andrew Zow won the 1999 SEC championship, but went win-less against Tennessee during his career with the Crimson Tide (1997-2001).

Zow has since launched his high school coaching career in Alabama, serving as head coach at Montevallo (2012-15), Calera (2016-18), Bessemer City (2019) and Sylacauga (2020).

24 Oct 1998: Quarterback Andrew Zow #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers defeated the Crimson Tide 35-18. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allsport

Ahead of Tennessee’s matchup with No. 2 Alabama Saturday at Neyland Stadium (3:30 p.m. EDT, CBS), the first-year Sylacauga head coach reflected on his time playing the Vols.

“I am probably a little more bitter towards Tennessee than I am with Auburn,” Zow said on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.” “I never had a chance to beat them. When we won the SEC championship, we lost to them. Shaun (Alexander) and I had high ankle sprains in that game, so we were half men at that time.

“Tennessee is one of those games that they dress the freshmen up in orange. When I redshirted, they had me as Peyton Manning my freshman year. It was Rocky Top blaring throughout the week, everything you ate could have been orange. You hear that song and it is sort of psychological and brainwashing where you grow to hate Tennessee before you get to the game.”

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant during Zow’s first year at Alabama in 1997.

“It is one of those things that you get to see guys move on and do great things,” Zow said of Pruitt serving as Tennessee’s head coach.

The entire show with Zow can be listened to here or below.