Tag: caden story

Big official visit weekend on tap for Clemson

Clemson is getting ready for a big recruiting weekend, as the Tigers will play host to a quartet of official visitors this weekend. The four official visitors that have confirmed that they will be in attendance are all uncommitted prospects in the …

Clemson is getting ready for a big recruiting weekend, as the Tigers will play host to a quartet of official visitors this weekend.

The four official visitors that have confirmed that they will be in attendance are all uncommitted prospects in the class of 2022, looking to find their next home, prior to next month’s National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The official visitors that are expected to be on campus this weekend are — Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story, Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud, Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, TX.) three-star running back Andrew Paul and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory (Montgomery, Ala.) three-star defensive back Kylon Griffin.

Caden Story

Starting off with Story, he formally decommitted from Auburn this weekend and has since re-opened his recruitment. The highly-touted defensive lineman out of the Yellowhammer State previously committed to Auburn on Aug. 1, 2021, and Nick Eason played a significant part in his decision to originally commit to Bryan Harsin’s program.

Story saw Eason as someone who could develop and take his game to the next level.

Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator stayed in contact with Story and never stopped recruiting him, even after departing Auburn to join Dabo Swinney’s staff and return home to Clemson.

Eason stopped by Story’s high school last Friday and made an in-home visit with him and his parents just a couple of days later. He even made sure to bring his guitar with him.

“Coach Eason, that’s my guy,” Story said. “He’s a real dude. We have a really close relationship. I feel like he’s one of the best in the country. I feel like he is the best in the country. Me and Coach Eason, we’re tight. We’re close. That’s my dude. That’s my guy.”

When Eason originally recruited Story to Auburn, what was he looking for him to come in and do?

“Just developing and becoming a better player than I was before I got there,” Story added. “Become a better man than when I got there. He showed me a plan of the way they wanted to use me at Auburn and hopefully, [this weekend], he’ll do the same.”

Story is down to three schools: Clemson, Florida and Auburn. He’ll be making an official visit to Gainesville next weekend and then make his decision in Lanett High School’s gymnasium shortly thereafter.

Kobe McCloud

Like Story, ahead of his official visit to Clemson this weekend, McCloud ultimately decided to back off his commitment from FIU. He indicated that the coaching changes played a part in his decision to decommit and reopen his recruitment and weigh his options.

The legacy recruit recently spoke to The Clemson Insider prior to his official visit about what he’s looking forward to this weekend.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to see it. I haven’t been there since 2017 or around there, since my brother was there. So, it’s great to see it there, years later.”

Kobe, of course, is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Ray-Ray McCloud III. Now that Ray-Ray’s season is over, he plans on meeting his family at Clemson and will be present for Kobe’s official visit.

Right now, Kobe is pushing to wait until signing day. But if he likes how the official visit goes this weekend, there is a possibility that he could make a decision before then.

His recruitment is also now down to three schools: Clemson, UMass and Arizona.

Andrew Paul

Possibly the biggest name on campus this weekend will be Paul, who has been one of the fastest rising prospects in the country since his tremendous senior campaign. In 13 games, he recorded 2,824 all-purpose yards with 44 total touchdowns. He also averaged an impressive 9.7 yards per carry and 201.2 yards per game.

Clemson officially extended a scholarship offer to Paul on Thursday, Jan. 6.

“I think Clemson is one of those premier programs,” Parish head coach Daniel Novakov said after Clemson officially offered Paul. “Anytime you get an offer from a place like that, I think it kind of legitimizes you as a star amongst stars. I think it’s one of those top-notch programs that all kids aspire to be recruited by.”

Paul was visited by both Clemson running back coach C.J. Spiller and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, who stopped by his training session with Brandon Williams on Wednesday.

Williams, who trains the three-star running back at FASST Performance & Fitness and has done so for the past three and a half years. He’s worked every step of the way with the Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, TX.) product.

Spiller and Streeter chatted with Paul a little bit before his training session Thursday. They didn’t want to interrupt but just were there to observe the running back prospect, who has become a priority for Clemson in the 2022 recruiting class.

Williams spoke with TCI ahead of Paul’s visit to Clemson this weekend.

“Oh man, he’s excited,” Williams said. “He can’t wait to go talk to them again and really get to see Dabo Swinney. Dabo’s gonna be Dabo and I told him, everything you listen to, listen in and ask a lot of questions and get to know him. We do walk by our faith. That’s who we are. That’s something he’s believed in since Day 1 when I first met him and Dabo’s lined up with that.”

Paul is coming off an official visit to the University of Michigan the weekend prior and previously visited the University of Colorado as well. He has one remaining official visit remaining and he could choose to visit either Notre Dame or Oregon prior to signing day, but nothing’s set in stone just yet.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, this weekend will be big for Paul and Clemson’s pursuit of him. Shortly thereafter, Swinney is tentatively scheduled to visit make an in-home visit with Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Kylon Griffin

Last, but certainly not least, is Griffin, the three-star defensive back out of Montgomery Catholic Prep.

Griffin, who was recently offered by Clemson, included the Tigers, along with Nebraska and Southern Cal, as his top and final three schools.

Griffin (6-0, 187) is a former Mississippi State commit. He officially visited Nebraska last weekend, will visit Clemson this weekend and will finish off his visits with Southern Cal next weekend.

According to MaxPreps, Griffin recorded 44 total tackles (five for loss), six passes defended and a caused fumble as a senior this past season.

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Clemson in final 3 for former Auburn commit

After formally decommitting from Auburn this past weekend and re-opening his recruitment, Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story dropped his final three schools on Thursday afternoon via social media. Story is now down to Clemson, …

After formally decommitting from Auburn this past weekend and re-opening his recruitment, Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story dropped his final three schools on Thursday afternoon via social media.

Story is now down to Clemson, Florida and Auburn.

He recently confirmed to The Clemson Insider that he will indeed be officially visiting Clemson this coming weekend (Jan. 21-23.) and then will visit the University of Florida at the end of the month.

Story previously committed to Auburn on Aug. 1, 2021, and Nick Eason played a significant part in his decision. He saw Eason as someone who develop and take his game to the next level.

Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator never stopped recruiting Story, even when he left to join Dabo Swinney’s coaching staff.

He stopped by his high school last Friday and made an in-home visit with Story and his parents a couple of days later. Eason made sure to stop by a home that he’s been to before. He even made sure to bring his guitar with him.

“Coach Eason, that’s my guy,” Story said. “He’s a real dude. We have a really close relationship. I feel like he’s one of the best in the country. I feel like he is the best in the country. Me and Coach Eason, we’re tight. We’re close. That’s my dude. That’s my guy.”

Story also announced his plans to sign on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Lanett High School Gymnasium.

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

 

Eason has ‘great’ visit with 4-star DL target

Nick Eason stopped by the home of a class of 2022 defensive lineman target on Monday. Eason visited with Lanett (Ala.) four-star Caden Story, who decomitted from Auburn Sunday. Clemson’s defensive tackles coach/run game coordinator returned to the …

Nick Eason stopped by the home of a class of 2022 defensive lineman target on Monday.

Eason visited with Lanett (Ala.) four-star Caden Story, who decomitted from Auburn Sunday. Clemson’s defensive tackles coach/run game coordinator returned to the Yellowhammer State after visiting Story’s high school, along with Wes Goodwin on Friday.

Even though Story is looking at officially visiting Clemson this coming week (Jan. 21-23), Eason made sure to stop by a home that he’s been to before. He even made sure to bring his guitar with him.

Story committed to Auburn on Aug. 1, 2021, and Eason played a significant part in his decision. He saw Eason as someone who develop and take his game to the next level.

“Coach Eason, that’s my guy,” Story told The Clemson Insider. “He’s a real dude. We have a really close relationship. I feel like he’s one of the best in the country. I feel like he is the best in the country. Me and Coach Eason, we’re tight. We’re close. That’s my dude. That’s my guy.”

Eason had continued to recruit Story even when he was still committed to Auburn. Now that Story is an uncommitted prospect again, Eason is pulling out all the stops.

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

Clemson target decommits from Auburn

Clemson has been heavily recruiting an Auburn commit ever since Nick Eason joined the team’s coaching staff. After speaking with The Clemson Insider earlier Sunday afternoon, Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story announced via social …

Clemson has been heavily recruiting an Auburn commit ever since Nick Eason joined the team’s coaching staff.

After speaking with The Clemson Insider earlier Sunday afternoon, Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story announced via social media that he would be decommiting from Auburn.

“From the moment I received my offer from Auburn University,” Story wrote in a statement posted on Twitter, “they’ve shown nothing but love and support. Due to recent changes and careful consideration, I’ve decided to de-commit from Auburn University. Auburn is still one of my top schools, but I have to make sure I’m making the best decision for me and my family. Thank you, Auburn! Respect my decision!”

While Story showed no indication that he would be backing off his pledge from Auburn in his conversation with TCI, he did talk up Eason, who played a big part in why he originally committed to Auburn on Aug. 1, 2021.

Story also discussed the possibility of taking an official visit to Clemson next weekend and already has a visit to Florida lined up at the end of the month.

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

Auburn commit talks relationship with Eason, possible official visit

Nick Eason and Wes Goodwin stopped by the school of an Auburn commit Friday. As we previously stated on our message board, Eason, Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and defensive run game coordinator, has kept in contact with Lanett (Ala.) four-star …

Nick Eason and Wes Goodwin stopped by the school of an Auburn commit Friday.

As we previously stated on our message board, Eason, Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and defensive run game coordinator, has kept in contact with Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story.

“He’s just been recruiting me hard, just like he was at Auburn,” Story told The Clemson Insider in a phone interview Sunday.

Story is still committed to Auburn, but that hasn’t stopped Eason from trying to get him to follow him to The Valley. 

“Coach Eason, that’s my guy,” Story said. “He’s a real dude. We have a really close relationship. I feel like he’s one of the best in the country. I feel like he is the best in the country. Me and Coach Eason, we’re tight. We’re close. That’s my dude. That’s my guy.”

When Story originally committed to Auburn back on Aug. 1, 2021, he saw Eason as someone who could develop and take his game to the next level.

Story is a fan of some of the guys Clemson has on its defensive line. While he didn’t name names it’s apparent that he’s a big believer in Eason getting him to that high level of play, even though he hasn’t coached his new players just yet.

“For the past few years, their defensive line have been straight dogs,” he said. “I love the way they develop those players and put them in the league, first round, second round and I really like that. I feel like Coach Eason and what he said he’s gonna do with me and the way he said he’s gonna develop me, I feel like he could do the same thing with me in three years.”

Right now, Story’s keeping his options open ahead of National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

That being said, he’s talked about taking an official visit to Clemson next weekend (Feb. 21-23). 

When Eason recruited Story to Auburn, he showed him a plan of how he would utilize him. Story is hopeful — if he does make it to Clemson for an official visit — that Eason will lay out a similar plan.

“It’s not set in stone yet, but that’s possibly the date it’s gonna be,” Story said.

Story’s father and head coach at Lannett, Clifford Story, Jr. told TCI earlier this weekend that they’re working on coming over to Clemson. They have a few things to get done to make the official visit happen. They’ll have confirmation either Monday or Tuesday.

In addition to Eason, Caden has also been in contact with Goodwin, Clmneson’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. 

“I feel like he’s gonna do a great job once he gets in there,” he said of Goodwin. “He’s gonna do an excellent job of keeping developing players and keep doing an excellent job of getting them in the draft.”

Clemson had shown previous interest in Caden, but they never offered him. 

He was in contact with Clemson defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall, who kept an open line of communication. They haven’t spoken since, it’s been just Eason and Goodwin that have been in touch.

For the moment, Story remains committed to Auburn, but that’s not gonna stop Eason from trying to get his first win on the recruiting trail as a Clemson coach.

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

Caden Story named 2A lineman of the year

Caden Story had a great season.

Caden Story ended his high school career with a dominant senior season, and he was honored at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football Banquet in Montgomery.

For the second straight year, Caden Story was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 2A Lineman of the Year. Story finished the season with 73 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and 20 quarterback hurries.

Story is committed to Auburn but did not sign during the early signing period, which has caused fans to speculate about if he will still make it to the Plains.

The four-star recruit addressed this Thursday with AL.com’s Nick Alvarez.

“I’m still committed to Auburn,” Story said, “I don’t plan on decommitting. I’m still looking into things to see if Auburn is still the place for me, but as of right now, that’s the place.”

The 6-foot-4, 282-pound Story is ranked as the No. 28 defensive lineman and No. 222 recruit in the country, per 247Sports Composite rankings, and No. 12 player in Alabama.

The Insider Report: Another transfer portal Target, Austin targets updates

Each week The Clemson Insider brings you the latest Inside information on the Clemson Tigers in The Insider Report. Who is the latest OL in the portal to hear from Clemson? Which Auburn commit has heard from coach Eason? When will the 2022 football …

Each week The Clemson Insider brings you the latest Inside information on the Clemson Tigers in The Insider Report.

Who is the latest OL in the portal to hear from Clemson?  Which Auburn commit has heard from coach Eason?  When will the 2022 football schedule be released?  What is the latest on a couple of 2023 prospects hearing from coach Austin?  All of this and more in this week’s edition of The Insider Report (FREE).

If you are not already a Clemson Insider register today for Free and enjoy all of the Insider information on TheClemsonInsider.com.

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Auburn commit plans official visit to Florida

Caden Story has been committed to the Tigers since August, but he will visit Gainesville on Jan. 28.

New UF coach Billy Napier had a good start on early signing day, bringing in three new blue-chip prospects (including five-star safety Kamari Wilson) while not losing anyone currently committed. However, the class still has a lot of work to do as it ranks 50th overall and remains last in the SEC.

That could change come February, though, and there are several highly ranked targets the Gators could look to add. One of those is four-star defensive lineman Caden Story, who is committed to Auburn. Story is reportedly set to visit Gainesville on Jan. 28, according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 264-pound player is the No. 222 player in the 2022 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. A native of Lanett, Alabama, he would be the second player from the state that Napier has swayed, joining Mobile linebacker Shemar James, who returned to UF’s class on early signing day.

Story has already officially visited Auburn and UCF, and may look to take visits to Oklahoma and Mississippi State, as well. He has been committed to the Tigers since August, but he chose not to sign during the early period.

That could open the door for a team like Florida to get into the mix for his services late, though he reportedly still has warm feelings toward Auburn and will by no means be an easy flip.

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Tracking every Auburn football committ on early signing day

Get to know the newest Auburn Tigers

As of right now, at 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, Auburn has the 14th best recruiting class in the country and seventh in the SEC.

Auburn has signed 17 players and has one more commit who will not sign in the early signing period. Also, top target Jeffrey M’ba will not be announcing where he signed until Dec. 19th.

Here is a look at every player Auburn has signed and the one commit who has yet to sign.

Overview of Auburn’s recruiting class ahead of early signing period

Here are some future Auburn Tigers.

With the early signing period rapidly approaching (Dec. 15), Auburn is kicking it’s recruiting into high gear. The Tigers are looking to add to a recruiting class that has several open spots and could use some more talent. Auburn is in the hunt for several elite recruits like 4-star wide receiver Darrius Clemons.

With Auburn looking to add to their class, here is a look at the players Auburn has committed to their 2022 recruiting class ahead of the early signing period.

Class Ranking: 33rd nationally, 12th in SEC

Total commits: 13

Auburn now has the 12th ranked recruiting class in the SEC according to 247Sports. There is still time to add to the class, but this is a position Auburn never wants to be in.

Average rating per commit: 88.20

Auburn’s average recruiting ranking of 88.20 is just under the 90.00 grade needed to be a 4-star recruit and is good enough for eighth in the SEC. That is lower than Auburn wants to be but is a more accurate picture of the class than their overall ranking in the SEC.