Tag: Branden Strozier

This past weekend, Clemson played host to one of its top cornerback targets in the 2023 recruiting class.

St. Francis High School (Alpharetta, Ga.) three-star Branden Strozier made his way to Tiger Town for the Orange & White Spring Game last Saturday.

“It was a real good visit being able to see the spring game and getting a semi feel of what the game day experience is like, ” Strozier told The Clemson Insider. “It was real good. The fan interaction and it being 35,000 people just for a spring game.”

What stood out to Strozier during his latest visit to campus?

“Like I said, just the fans,” he added. “The love for Clemson. It’s real love out there. It was real cold out there, but the stadium was basically packed for a spring game. I really liked that.”

Strozier feels like Mike Reed has made him a priority, especially considering that Clemson’s cornerback’s coach spent a good time around him and his family when he was there. To Strozier, that shows not only how much Reed likes him as a player, but as a person.

“We’ve built up a good relationship over the past two, three months,” Strozier said. “It’s one of those that I feel good about. I feel good about our relationship and where it’s headed.”

With that said, what did Strozier hear from Clemson’s staff when he was back on campus?

“They were basically just telling me that I’m the type of guy that they’re looking for and they feel like I would fit into their program,” he said. “I feel like I would be able to fit into Clemson’s and Coach Reed’s playstyle in the secondary.”

According to Strozier, Reed views him as not only a cornerback but someone who can play around the field. At St. Francis, Strozier played a few games at safety this past season, but he primarily plays the cornerback position for his high school.

As far as his recruitment is concerned, Strozier isn’t narrowing his list down, but he will commit sometime during June after his official visits.

Strozier indicated that Clemson stands pretty high in the mix of things. He’s unsure if he’ll get back to Clemson this spring, but he’s already set up an official visit for the first week of June (3-5). He also has set an official visit to Tennessee.

“I’m really looking forward to spending time with the coaches outside of the football aspect,” Strozier said. “When I’ve been on visits. they’ve been at practice, they’ve been at games and meetings and stuff. I want to get the chance to really know them.”

When it does come time for Strozier to make a decision, what are the main factors he’ll be looking at?

“Really just a school that’s not only gonna build me up as a player but as a person and an individual,” he said, “and a school that’s gonna set me up in the future, not only football but outside of football with education, life and stuff like that.”

— Photo for this article courtesy of @13randen_ on Instagram

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Clemson extended an offer Saturday to a four-star cornerback who was on campus.

St. Francis High School’s (Alpharetta, Ga.) Branden Strozier announced the offer from the Tigers via Twitter on Saturday night.

Blessed to receive an offer from Clemson University!! @CUCoachReed @BrandonJacobs27 @I_Am_OD3 @Mansell247 @JeremyO_Johnson @RecruitGeorgia @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/XR3Hnx9dbf

— Branden🧙 (@BrandenStrozier) March 12, 2022

Strozier — a 6-2, 175-pound junior — plays all over the field for St. Francis, as he’s featured at cornerback, safety and wide receiver.

Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed has recently been in contact with the two-way player and according to Strozier, Clemson would like him to visit for spring practice. He did just that on Saturday and left campus with an offer  in hand.

“I’ve been mainly talking to Coach Reed,” Strozier told The Clemson Insider. “He mainly said that he really wanted to get to know me because it happened fairly quickly, so he wanted to get to know me and get me up on a visit. It feels good knowing that a school like that wants me to come up there and take a visit and meet the coaches.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

During the live period, Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed stopped by St. Francis High School (Alpharetta, Ga.), which is home to one of the nation’s fastest-rising prospects in Branden Strozier.

Strozier — a 6-2, 175-pound junior — plays all over the field for St. Francis, as he’s featured at cornerback, safety and wide receiver. Reed has recently been in contact with the two-way player and according to Strozier, Clemson would like him to visit for spring practice.

“I’ve been mainly talking to Coach Reed,” Strozier told The Clemson Insider. “He mainly said that he really wanted to get to know me because it happened fairly quickly, so he wanted to get to know me and get me up on a visit. It feels good knowing that a school like that wants me to come up there and take a visit and meet the coaches.”

Right now, they’re in the process of building a relationship and in the getting-to-know-you stage. Strozier is unsure when he plans on taking a visit to Clemson, but estimates that it’ll come in March during the live period.

“I feel like he’s a pretty good dude,” Strozier said of Reed. “I haven’t really gotten to really sit down and have a real good conversation with him, but from what I saw, he’s a real good dude. Hopefully, we can build that relationship as long as this recruiting process goes.”

Strozier is certainly aware of Reed’s reputation as a developer of talent. A fellow Peach State native in former Clemson standout and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell is a prime example of Reed’s work.

“That’s one of the main things I look at when I’m looking at a college,” he said. “Are they producing athletes and putting them in the NFL? That’s one box he checks off for me.”

Last month, Strozier went on visits to Tennessee, Kentucky and the University of Florida. Since Jan. 15, he’s earned offers from Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Tennessee, Minnesota, Florida, Wake Forest, UCF, Iowa State, Mizzou and Florida State.

“It’s surreal,” Strozier said of his recruitment taking off, “because just about two months ago, I didn’t really have anything, to be honest. I was kind of like, ‘Will I get any?’ at one point. But, I just had to stick to my plan and just trust it.”

That showed Strozier that his hard work and patience has started to pay off. He’s stuck to his plan and hasn’t given up on what he’s wanted to achieve. Speaking of patience, that’s an element that Clemson often abides by in the recruitment process and will definitely be doing so in Strozier’s recruitment.

How does he feel about that?

“I do like the way that they go about things because I’m not really rushing and waiting for the offer,” he said. “I prefer that you build chemistry and have a connection, instead of you just coming to me and saying that you want to offer me and it’s just no relationship there. That’s what I like about Clemson and Coach Reed.”

Strozier describes himself as a player who can shut down one side of the field. He’s a very versatile playmaker, who’s able to use his feet quite well for his size.

His junior season started rough, but he picked up his play and filled out his role. He became a leader on the team, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named to several first-team All-State teams.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!