Tag: C.J. Spiller

Top OL prospect hearing a lot from Tigers, ‘waiting patiently’ for offer

Payton Kirkland, one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2023 class, is certainly glad that he narrowed down his recruitment last weekend. Since trimming his list of more than 40 scholarship offers to 12 schools, it has been a big stress …

Payton Kirkland, one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2023 class, is certainly glad that he narrowed down his recruitment last weekend.

Since trimming his list of more than 40 scholarship offers to 12 schools, it has been a big stress relief for the four-star offensive tackle from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.

“The recruiting process has gotten a lot better with these past few days, a lot less hectic,” Kirkland told The Clemson Insider.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds by 247Sports, Kirkland named Clemson one of his top 12 schools last Saturday, along with Florida, Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M and UCF.

Although Clemson has not extended an offer to Kirkland just yet, he included the Tigers in his top group anyway – in large part because of the consistent contact he’s had with offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and area recruiter C.J. Spiller since Sept. 1, when college coaches could start reaching out to high school juniors like Kirkland.

“They told me to expect an offer soon, and I’m just waiting patiently,” he said. “They’ve kept in contact with me probably more than any other program. Every day — every morning, every afternoon — I hear from Coach Spiller, Coach Caldwell and Coach Elliott.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve talked to those three every day since September 1st,” Kirkland added.

Kirkland called the substantial interest he’s receiving from the Tigers “amazing” and said it’s “definitely a blessing.”

All in all, what has been the message from Clemson’s coaches to Kirkland since Sept. 1?

“They’re excited about me,” he said, “and they can’t wait to get me back on campus, pretty much.”

Kirkland attended Clemson’s spring game in April and returned to campus during the Dabo Swinney Camp this past June, but because of his high school football schedule, he isn’t sure yet when or if he will be able to make it back to Tiger Town for a game this season.

“The thing with these in-season visits is just they end up happening last minute or you find out about it last minute because you have a game the night before,” he said. “Personally, I think it’ll be after the season.”

Right now, Kirkland is simply going with the flow of his recruiting process and doesn’t know what the next step for him is now that he has narrowed things down, though he doesn’t expect to render his college decision in the foreseeable future.

“I’m pretty easy going when it comes to my recruitment,” he said. “You don’t really see or hear too much about me. So, I just take my time with it and whatever happens, happens. I don’t think I’ll probably be committing anytime soon.”

Clemson is already one of Kirkland’s top schools, even though he doesn’t yet have an offer from the program.

So, if the Tigers eventually pull the trigger on an offer as he anticipates will be the case, it would be a significant development in his recruitment considering the strong bond he has built with Clemson’s staff.

“It’ll mean a lot,” he said. “We’ve been building a relationship for almost three years now.”

What stands out the most to Kirkland about Clemson?

“I’d say it’s the culture,” he said, “and they’re probably more consistent with me than any other school, even on that list.”

Kirkland is tabbed as the No. 9 offensive tackle in the 2023 class by both Rivals and the 247Sports Composite rankings.

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Clemson made in-state running back feel like he was home during game day visit

This in-state running back was on campus for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State back on Sept. 11. Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 2023 running back Jarvis Green recently caught up with The Clemson Insider about his gameday experience in Death …

This in-state running back was on campus for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State back on Sept. 11.

Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 2023 running back Jarvis Green recently caught up with The Clemson Insider about his gameday experience in Death Valley and what he continues to hear from the Tigers.

“It was great. They had a great atmosphere. I love the coaches. They greeted me with open arms, made me feel like I was home.”

Green’s reaction?

“It was surprising to me. I was in shock. I got there, they just met me and they walked through and like I said, just open arms.”

Green and his family sat and ate lunch with Clemson runnings back coach C.J. Spiller and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter. According to Green, they talked about his high school, whether or not he’s keeping up with his body and how his games have been going.

“It really feels good to be a hometown person going to Clemson, getting love from a school that’s one of the top in my state and in the country,” Green added. “It just feels good”

Green had a chance to catch up with his good friend, Clemson quarterback/wide receiver Will Taylor, as well as Lyn-J Dixon, who has since entered the transfer portal and Darien Rencher.

Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 2023 RB Jarvis Green with Clemson RB Darien Rencher before the Tigers’ game against S.C. State Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“It was great. I just felt his energy when we was talking and he was just excited, excited that I came up there and he wanted me to come up there again,” he said.

Green believes that he will be back at Memorial Stadium for Clemson’s marquee conference matchup against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

For now, he continues to receive graphics and edits, in addition to mail on an almost daily basis from the Tigers.

Besides, Clemson schools like Wake Forest, App State, Coastal Carolina and UNC Charlotte are also showing Green some love.

As he continues to garner recruiting attention, especially from Clemson Green is proving that he’s an underrated commodity in the 2023 class.

He was named the Overall Player of the Game in Dutch Fork’s win over Spartanburg back on Friday, Sept. 24. Green recorded 144 all-purpose yards, adding 118 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns. On the season, he’s currently averaging around nine yards per carry and 113 yards per game.

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Spiller down in Florida to see nation’s No. 1 running back

Clemson’s coaches hit the recruiting trail hard on Friday night to take in some of the nation’s best prospects in the Class of 2023. Tigers’ running backs coach C.J. Spiller made his way down to the Sunshine State to watch Lehigh Senior (Lehigh …

Clemson’s coaches hit the recruiting trail hard on Friday night to take in some of the nation’s best prospects in the Class of 2023.

Tigers’ running backs coach C.J. Spiller made his way down to the Sunshine State to watch Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) five-star running back Richard Young.

Unfourntaley for Spiller. the game wound up being canceled after an initial lightning delay

Young (6-0, 190) is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 running back, No. 7 prospect in the state of Florida and No. 21 overall prospect regardless of position in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

Young took an unofficial visit to Clemson back on June 25 and received a scholarship offer the very same day. The Tigers have offered just two running backs in the 2023 class — Young and Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, Ga.) four-star Justice Haynes.

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Interest from Spiller, Tigers ‘means a lot’ to Sunshine State star

A highly regarded athlete from the Sunshine State expects to be scouted in person by a Clemson assistant coach this week. Edgewater High School (Orlando, Fla.) four-star class of 2023 prospect Cedric Baxter Jr. told The Clemson Insider that running …

A highly regarded athlete from the Sunshine State expects to be scouted in person by a Clemson assistant coach this week.

Edgewater High School (Orlando, Fla.) four-star class of 2023 prospect Cedric Baxter Jr. told The Clemson Insider that running backs coach C.J. Spiller plans to attend Edgewater’s game against Apopka (Fla.) High School on Friday night to see Baxter play.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior has been in frequent contact with Spiller and Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott since Sept. 1, when college coaches could start reaching out to high school juniors.

“I’ve been hearing things like how much of a good player I am,” Baxter said.

Baxter plays all over the field for Edgewater, seeing action at linebacker and defensive back in addition to running back. Two weeks ago, he rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries, and he has racked up 563 rushing yards and seven rushing scores on 62 carries (9.1 yards per carry) through the first four games of his junior season according to MaxPreps.

Baxter traveled to Clemson with a group of Orlando-area prospects back in June to tour the campus and work out at the Dabo Swinney Camp.

“Awesome campus and atmosphere from the players to coaches,” Baxter said, reflecting on what stood out about the visit. “Coach Spiller says I did great in camp, and the thing I look back on is how everyone is like a family around there.”

Baxter also visited schools such as Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Florida State, Miami and UCF over the summer. So far this season, he has been to Florida State for its opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 5 and Florida for its game against Alabama last Saturday.

All of the aforementioned schools have offered Baxter, along with Ohio State, Penn State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, South Carolina, NC State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Stanford and Cincinnati among a slew of others.

Although Baxter already boasts offers from many of the nation’s best programs, an offer from Clemson, should the Tigers pull the trigger moving forward, would be a big deal to him.

“It’ll mean a lot just because of who they are and the type of players they produce every year,” he said.

Along those lines, Baxter is honored to be garnering interest from Clemson and to be hearing from Spiller and Elliott.

“It means a lot, especially because the quality of program they are and the type of players they produce,” he said.

Baxter hopes to make it back to Clemson for a game this season.

The consensus four-star prospect according to the major recruiting services is ranked as the No. 9 running back and No. 136 overall prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN, while he is ranked as the No. 16 athlete and No. 150 overall prospect in his class per the 247Sports Composite.

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New Jersey running back has ‘amazing experience’ at Clemson-S.C. State game

This Class of 2022 running back was among the visitors in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State this past Saturday, Sept. 11. Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep’s Kanye Udoh had a chance to catch up with The Clemson Insider …

This Class of 2022 running back was among the visitors in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State this past Saturday, Sept. 11.

Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep’s Kanye Udoh had a chance to catch up with The Clemson Insider regarding his experience in The Valley and what the three-star running back has been hearing from Clemson as of late.

“It was great. It was an amazing experience getting to see everything up close, getting to be around the players and coaches,” Udoh told TCI. “They seem very interested in me. They said that they wanted me to come back up there again.”

There were a lot of highlights during Udoh’s visit to Clemson, but if he had to pick one, it would be just being around the locker room, he said.

“It just felt like they were really like a family, so to speak,” he added. “It felt like they were really all on one page, one mission, one goal. That was definitely impressive. They all seemed laser locked in and focused.”

It was by no means an easy trip for Udoh and his family, but it was worth it in the end.

He had a high school game the Friday night before and wound up flying out of Philadelphia around 4 a.m. on Saturday morning. Then after the flight, he and his family caught a rental car and drove down to Clemson.

This was Udoh’s first-ever game day visit.

It doesn’t get much better than what Udoh experienced at Memorial Stadium. Not to mention getting the chance to converse with a Hall of Fame running back. That just doesn’t happen every day.

Two weeks ago, Udoh was watching C.J. Spiller’s highlights on YouTube. This past Saturday, he was able to meet Clemson’s running backs coach in person for a surreal experience.

“Me and him had a good conversation on the field,” Udoh said. “He just was seeing how my trip was. I got to ask him a couple of questions, like some advice he would give to running backs. It was a good conversation.”

Though, Udoh’s main point of contact at Clemson has been Tigers’ offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell.

“He’s a really good coach,” Udoh said of Caldwell. “I really like him a lot.

Udoh is unsure of a potential offer, but he does believe that Clemson wants to see what he’s able to put on film during his senior season. With that being said, the New Jersey native is appreciative of the way the Tigers handle the recruiting process.

“I like it because it means if they offer me, that they’re serious,” he said. “They’re not playing no games if they really want me. So they already sort of vetted me out already, see the kind of person I am, they like me and they want me there.”

In addition to Clemson, Udoh mentioned schools like Rutgers, Temple and Nebraska as ones that are currently standing out in his recruitment. He holds offers from the trio of schools mentioned above but also has Power 5 offers from programs like Boston College, Maryland Syracuse and West Virginia. 

Udoh describes himself as a fast, big running back, who has good balance and good vision.

He got an opportunity to see how Clemson utilizes its backs in the team’s 46-point win over S.C. State, which got out of hand pretty quickly

“I like how they use their running backs. Getting them the ball in space, trying to make me people miss and get upfield,” he said. “ Will Shipley, he had a good game when I went up there. That was very impressive.”

Clemson rushed 36 times for 242 rushing yards. Shipley accounted for 80 of those yards on eight carries, adding two touchdowns in the process. The true freshman running back was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week for his performance.

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Clemson in wait-and-see mode with freshman RB ‘as good as anybody we have’

Clemson has used the first two weeks of the season to get a look at all of its scholarship running backs in game action. All of them except one, that is. After Kobe Pace, Will Shipley and Lyn-J Dixon got all of the reps at the position in Clemson’s …

Clemson has used the first two weeks of the season to get a look at all of its scholarship running backs in game action.

All of them except one, that is.

After Kobe Pace, Will Shipley and Lyn-J Dixon got all of the reps at the position in Clemson’s opening loss to Georgia, Michel Dukes and Darien Rencher took their turn rotating in during the Tigers’ rout of South Carolina State last week. But it didn’t take long for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to mention the one running back who’s still awaiting his chance afterward.

“(Phil) Mafah is right there with those guys, to be honest with you,” Swinney said during his postgame press conference.

Swinney again brought up Mafah unsolicited during his media availability Tuesday ahead of the Tigers’ ACC opener against Georgia Tech on Saturday at Memorial Stadium when discussing the group.

“Wait until you see Mafah. Wait until you see him,” Swinney said. “He’s as good as anybody we have.”

So why hasn’t the true freshman played yet? Swinney said the answer can largely be found in Clemson’s depth.

A tweak to players’ eligibility window made by the NCAA in 2018 allows players to appear in as many as four games while still maintaining their redshirt for that season. Dixon, Pace and Shipley are currently at the head of the running back class with Swinney saying he thinks of each one as a starter. Rencher is a sixth-year senior who’s earned the coaching staff’s trust over time while Swinney said Dukes, a sophomore, is also a capable back who should be able to help the Tigers this season despite still needing to work on that trust factor.

With the running back room still intact from a health standpoint, Swinney has opted to hold Mafah out for now, though he “definitely will” play at some point this season, Swinney said. Mafah was a consensus top-300 recruit nationally and ranked the No. 8 running back prospect by Rivals coming out of Grayson (Georgia) High last year. At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he’s also the biggest back on the roster.

“He’s a sledgehammer, man,” Swinney said.

But, in a perfect world, Clemson would like to redshirt him, so the plan is to be picky about which four games Mafah plays. Plans, though, can always change.

Swinney said the coaches didn’t want to waste one of those four games in a blowout win, but injuries and each back’s production are among the situations over the course of the season that will ultimately dictate whether or not the Tigers will be able to keep the redshirt on Mafah. One situation currently playing out is the dynamic between running backs coach C.J. Spiller and Dixon, who has had a much more limited role than expected with just six touches (five carries, one reception) through two games.

Like the rest of Clemson’s primary backs, Mafah is repping against the scout team during practice, not with it. It’s the Tigers’ way of keeping him ready for whenever his number is called.

“I’d like to hold him if I can,” Swinney said in reference to a redshirt. “Don’t know if we’ll be able to do that, but for sure we’ll get four games. It may be a barnburner, 27-24 game, and he’s played in that game. I don’t know. It will truly be a week-to-week deal.”

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Is Clemson’s running back rotation here to stay?

It was used more frequently this time, but Clemson’s rotation at running back was on display again against South Carolina State. And it doesn’t sound like it’s leaving anytime soon. Lyn-J Dixon, Kobe Pace and Will Shipley all took their turns in the …

It was used more frequently this time, but Clemson’s rotation at running back was on display again against South Carolina State.

And it doesn’t sound like it’s leaving anytime soon.

Lyn-J Dixon, Kobe Pace and Will Shipley all took their turns in the Tigers’ backfield during last week’s 49-3 win, and they came quickly for each. Dixon got the start and took the handoff on Clemson’s first two offensive plays before Pace gave him a breather. By the time Clemson’s first drive ended with a touchdown a few minutes later, all three had seen the field.

The trio got the majority of their reps during the first three quarters and combined for 175 of Clemson’s 242 rushing yards. After helping the Tigers average 6.7 yards per carry and score five of their seven touchdowns on the ground, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said all three still deserve carries.

“Heck, Shipley was 10 yards a carry. Kobe was 10 yards a carry. Lyn-J did a good job with his opportunities as well,” Swinney said. “I think all three of those guys will continue to warrant opportunity, and I really don’t see that changing. We’re going to need them for sure.”

After getting just nine carries among them in Clemson’s season-opening loss to Georgia, the Tigers’ top three backs combined for 19 carries against South Carolina State. Shipley and Dixon also had three receptions between them with Dixon’s lone catch going for a 14-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Pace and Shipley got the bulk of the carries, though. Dixon, a senior who spent the last three seasons backing up Travis Etienne, got just two more after the opening possession and has just five carries through the first two games, which could be the norm until Dixon works his way back into the good graces of running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

After being held out of the first half against Georgia because of what Swinney described as team rules, Dixon was listed behind Pace and Shipley on the updated depth chart released ahead of Clemson’s ACC opener against Georgia Tech on Saturday. Without getting into specifics, Swinney referred to Dixon being in Spiller’s doghouse leading up to last week’s game and that Dixon “just needs to grow up” if he wants to be a more prominent part of the offensive going forward, something offensive coordinator Tony Elliott spoke on more Monday.

Pace is a sophomore experiencing his first expanded role while Shipley is the freshman speedster. But Pace said he believes each back’s skill set is complete enough to be called on regardless of the frequency or situation.

“I feel like we can all do the same thing,” Pace said. “I don’t think there’s nobody that can’t go out there on third down or fourth down and get the first down. So I think we all can do whatever needs to be done.”

Reserve backs Michel Dukes and Darien Rencher also got some extended playing time in the blowout win. Swinney said Rencher has the full trust of the coaching staff should the Tigers need him to log more snaps in the future. Dukes, who fumbled at the tail end of a reception late in the first half on a release he wasn’t supposed to make out of the backfield, is still working on earning that.

“Just wish Dukes would take another step and really become a little bit more consistent and a little more detailed in what he does because he could help us as well,” Swinney said.

The majority of the workload in the backfield, though, will be handled by the Tigers’ top three options for the foreseeable future as long as they stay healthy.

“They played well,” Swinney said. “It’s hard to see any separation there when you’ve got a couple of guys averaging 10 yards per carry.”

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Elliott shares thoughts on Lyn-J Dixon situation with C.J. Spiller

Lyn-J Dixon hasn’t been heavily involved in Clemson’s running game through the first two games of this season. The senior running back had only four carries for 27 yards in the Tigers’ 49-3 win over South Carolina State on Saturday after rushing …

Lyn-J Dixon hasn’t been heavily involved in Clemson’s running game through the first two games of this season. The senior running back had only four carries for 27 yards in the Tigers’ 49-3 win over South Carolina State on Saturday after rushing just one time for 10 yards in the season-opening 10-3 loss to Georgia on Sept. 4.

Following the SC State game, head coach Dabo Swinney was asked what Dixon needs to do to be a bigger part of the offense going forward.

“He just needs to grow up,” Swinney said. “It’s that simple. He needs to be a team player. He’s a good player. Obviously he’s very talented and we’ve seen that, but we need him to stay out of (running backs coach C.J.) Spiller’s doghouse.”

On Monday, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott addressed the Dixon situation while speaking to the media.

Elliott, who served as Dixon’s running backs coach the last three years before transitioning to his new role as the tight ends coach this year, said it is simply a matter of Dixon getting on the same page with his first-year running backs coach Spiller.

“I have (had conversations with Dixon) because I’ve been a part of his life,” Elliott said. “But at the same time, too, C.J. has to establish the culture in that room. Really the biggest thing is just accountability and communication between the two. I remember when I first came in (as Clemson’s running backs coach in 2011), I had Mike Bellamy, I had Demont Buice, (Andre) Ellington was an older guy, I had Hot Rod (Roderick McDowell), and I had to establish the dominant role in that room. Obviously, Ellington had been here for a while, and not saying that we were butting heads, but we had to get on the same page. He had to understand what my coaching style is, and that’s what you’re going through there.

“Obviously, Lyn-J has been used to me, and now he’s just getting used to Spiller. But y’all know Spiller, y’all know the character that he has and how he’s going to establish the hierarchy in that room. And any of us that are in a situation where you’ve got a chain of command, you’ve got to respect the chain of command and do things according to how the person that’s leading the room sets it. So, it’s really more accountability and communication between the two. They’re working through it. But you know our program, too. That’s what the foundation of our program is – accountability.”

Dixon entered 2021 with 1,372 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 208 career attempts and 183 yards on 18 catches over 38 games. The Butler, Ga., native came into his fourth season ranked second in school history in yards per carry (6.60) behind Clemson legend and former teammate Travis Etienne.

“There’s no question about the type of player that Lyn-J is,” Elliott said. “Lyn-J’s made a bunch of plays for us in this program. The biggest thing is just getting on the same page with his coach and the things that his coach is asking him to do. And it’s not necessarily football stuff, it’s the total package. And I think that’s been illustrated in our program, that everything matters if you’re going to be the lead guy and the first guy that runs out.”

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Watch: Special moment at halftime of Clemson-SC State game

Legendary Clemson running back and current Tiger running backs coach C.J. Spiller was honored for his College Football Hall of Fame selection in an in-stadium presentation at halftime of Clemson’s home opener against South Carolina State on …

Legendary Clemson running back and current Tiger running backs coach C.J. Spiller was honored for his College Football Hall of Fame selection in an in-stadium presentation at halftime of Clemson’s home opener against South Carolina State on Saturday.

During the ceremony, the National Football Foundation presented Spiller with a plaque celebrating his selection in advance of his formal induction at the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

In January, Spiller was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021, earning the distinction in only his second year of eligibility. He will become Clemson’s eighth overall inductee and its fourth former player to earn the honor.

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Sunshine State prospect has a ‘long family connection’ to Spiller, Clemson

This Sunshine State prospect is among college juniors who heard from Clemson dating back to Sept. 1. Starke (Fla.) Bradford High School 2023 running back Manny Covey’s relationship to the Clemson football program goes beyond his experience at the …

This Sunshine State prospect is among college juniors who heard from Clemson dating back to Sept. 1.

Starke (Fla.) Bradford High School 2023 running back Manny Covey’s relationship to the Clemson football program goes beyond his experience at the Dabo Swinney Camp this past summer. 

The Tigers are actually looking at Covey (5-11, 175) as a slot receiver. He worked out for and was coached by wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham at Clemson’s camp.

Covey and his father, Rich, caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding their long-standing connection to Clemson and their relationship with Tigers’ running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

“I talked to the wide receivers coach when I went to the camp and he just told me basically that he wanted me to play that position, instead of being a running back,” Manny told TCI. 

Clemson reached out and expressed their interest in him almost immediately. 

He’s very familiar with the program, not only through Spiller, who is practically family, but he and his family lived in Anderson County from 2009-16 before moving back down to Florida.

Manny’s adopted. He’s been with his family since he was about four years old, according to his father. Rich’s oldest adopted son is first cousins with Spiller. Manny is not actually biologically related to Spiller.

Starke (Fla.) Bradford 2023 RB/ATH Manny Covey and Clemson running backs coach C.J. Spiller back in December 2009 (photo courtesy of Rich Covey)

“But he’s called Manny his ‘little cuz’ ever since we can remember,” Rich recalled. “As a matter of fact, I can tell you when we first moved up there, I think it was C.J.’s rookie year (with Buffalo), he came and picked up my oldest son. Willie was actually being recruited to Auburn, him Kevin Alexander and C.J. in that ‘06 class. He was a rookie at Buffalo and he pulled up to our house in his range rover and he got out of the car. He was like ‘what’s up little cuz’ and Manny responded back, ‘you’re not my cousin.’”

Rich can recite that memory like it was yesterday. 

“We just have a long, long family connection,” he added. “As I said, we lived in that area, both of my boys played travel baseball, Dabo’s kids played travel baseball and they had kids around the same age. We’d see them at different baseball tournaments over the years. 

“We have a long-standing relationship with Clemson. My oldest son camped at Clemson as well. We’re definitely familiar with the area. Just the fact that he’s even being talked about with a premiere program like Clemson is big for him, whether Clemson offers or not. There’s no arguing that Clemson’s one of the top-3 programs in the country”

If there’s anyone who can say good things about Clemson’s camps, it’s Rich, who’s attended plenty of them as a parent with his sons over the years.

“Even dating all the way back to Dabo’s first year as the head coach there, that was actually when my oldest son went,” Rich said. “The best working camp in the country. This summer, we did Clemson, North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, South Carolina and hands down Clemson’s camp was the best. As far as work, I like that Dabo said ‘Hey look, I’m not running a combine, I’m trying to find football players, so we’re gonna do football stuff.’ And that’s exactly what they did. They worked and taught the entire camp. There’s no doubt that Clemson is the premiere camp — at least the ones I’ve attended as a parent with both of my kids.”

It’s still pretty early on as far as Manny’s recruitment goes and his versatility will play a huge factor, nonetheless.

He’s a running back, slot receiver, kick returner and punt returner. Manny can essentially do it all. Last season, he had almost 1,400 all-purpose yards and a total of 14 touchdowns.

Manny is a versatile threat, who can move all over the field. As far as his recruitment is concerned, it’s all about a team just taking a chance, Rich added.

Though it’s still pretty early on as far as Manny’s recruitment goes and his versatility will play a huge factor, nonetheless.

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