Tag: Clemson 2023 recruiting

Twitter reacts: Clemson baseball hires Erik Bakich as new head coach

Check out how Twitter reacted to Clemson hiring Michigan’s Erik Bakich as the Tigers’ 28th baseball head coach in program history.

After missing the NCAA Tournament for consecutive seasons for the first time since 1986, Clemson baseball has hired a new head coach in Erik Bakich.

Although the media had broken the news days before it was official, Clemson’s Board of Trustees Compensation Committee officially approved a six-year contract with Bakich on Thursday that will pay Bakich $850,000 in the first year and will progressively increase by $50,000 until the salary reaches $1.1 million in year six.

Spending the last 10 seasons as Michigan’s head coach Bakich was the runner-up in the 2019 College World Series and led the Wolverines to five of the last seven NCAA Tournaments. Although he had success at Michigan, his coaching career began in Clemson in 2002 when he was a volunteer assistant for Jack Leggett.

Athletic director Graham Neff said during the hiring process that he viewed Clemson baseball as a top-15 job in the nation. Still, despite Neff’s expectations and the program’s past successes, Bakich isn’t shying away from what he expects from himself and his new team.

“I see that as a great challenge,” Bakich said. “I look at 2010; that program was in Omaha. Coach Lee’s first three years, we were hosting regionals. I just don’t see any reason why Clemson baseball can’t compete for national championships, trips to Omaha, ACC Championships and host the postseason right here at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.”

With Clemson letting go of Monte Lee in May, Bakich will serve as the Tigers’ 28th baseball head coach with the hope of winning the program’s first national championship.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the hire.

Clemson lands four-star defensive lineman prospect

Clemson just landed a massive four-star commitment who is close to becoming a five-star prospect.

Clemson has landed its 11th commitment to its 2023 class, and it’s a priority addition for the Tigers.

Announcing his decision on Wednesday, four-star defensive lineman Vic Burley will attend Clemson. He chose the Tigers over his three other finalists: Georgia, Michigan State and Tennessee.

Ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 4 defensive lineman and the No. 40 overall recruit, Burley is 6-foot-5 and 276 pounds. Playing for Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Ga., he finished his junior season in 2021 with 54 tackles (14 for loss), five sacks and one forced fumble.

Although five-star quarterback commit Christopher Vizzina edges him out, Burley is the second-highest graded prospect in Clemson’s 2023 class with a .9816 247Sports Composite score.

The Tigers previously had 11 commitments on Tuesday, but four-star wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph decommitted, bringing the number back to 10 before Burley’s announcement on Wednesday.

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Five-star defensive lineman puts Clemson in top four, sets commitment date

After jumping up to a top-10 2023 recruiting class, Clemson is one of four teams in contention for one of the nation’s top-25 recruits.

Clemson is still in contention for one of the nation’s top 2023 recruits.

According to On3, five-star defensive lineman Peter Woods has set his commitment date for July 8 at 6:45 p.m. EDT and will choose between Clemson, Alabama, Florida and Jackson State. 247Sports Composite ranks the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Woods as the No. 3 defensive lineman and the No. 23 overall recruit in the nation.

In his junior season in 2021, Woods racked up 92 total tackles (26 for loss), 11 sacks, two pass breakups and one interception. With his production and five-star rating, Woods has been a highly sought-after recruit. Before trimming his list down to four teams, Woods had 35 total offers, many of which were from other top programs like Oklahoma and Georgia.

“Clemson has everything on their campus for a student athlete to be successful on and off the field,” Woods said to On3. “The culture coach Swinney brings is unmatched.”

As for Clemson’s recruitment of Woods, he was one of 30 recruits that officially visited Clemson on June 3. Four of the 30 who officially visited on June 3 have committed since then, including four-star offensive tackle Ian Reed and four-star linebacker Jamal Anderson.

As of Tuesday, Clemson has 10 verbal commitments in its 2023 class, which has risen to No. 8 in the nation in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. If Woods chooses Clemson in July, he would be the Tigers’ highest-ranked commit, edging out five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina.

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Texas 4-star WR lists Clemson in top 5

Clemson has been named in the top-5 of another 2023 recruit following a big recruiting weekend for the Tigers.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik could be adding another fellow Texan to the Tigers locker room. Following his camp visit and offer from Clemson this past weekend, 2023 wide receiver Noble Johnson announced his top five via Twitter on Sunday, which included Clemson, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Louisville, and Arkansas.

Hailing from Rockwall High School, Johnson is 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 205 pounds. The Texas native recorded 49 receptions and 8 touchdowns for 875 yards in his junior season. Johnson is currently ranked in the 247Sports Composite as the No. 337 national prospect and the No. 43 ranked wide receiver in the 2023 class.

The Tigers 2023 recruiting class currently consists of verbal commitments from four-star quarterback Christian Vizzina, four-star wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph, four-star defensive end David Ojiegbe, three-star cornerback Branden Strozier, and four-star cornerback Avieon Terrell, brother of former Tiger and current Atlanta Falcon A.J. Terrell.

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Clemson making strides in 2023 recruiting class

Check out where Clemson lands in the latest 2023 recruiting rankings.

In a sport that depends heavily on gaining highly-rated high school recruits, Clemson’s 2023 recruiting class has begun to take form over the past few months, adding four commitments and climbing up the rankings.

Here’s what Craig Haubert of ESPN had to say about the Tigers’ 2023 class, which ESPN ranks 19th in the country.

ESPN 300 commits: 3 | Previous ranking: unranked 

ACC rank: 3 of 14

Top offensive commit: QB Christopher Vizzina (No. 79)

Top defensive commit: DE David Ojiegbe (No. 246)

Trevor Lawrence set a high bar, and replacing him is not easy, but the Tigers continue to add talented options under center. They signed the No. 2 overall quarterback in the 2022 cycle in Cade Klubnik and now landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Vizzina, a strong-armed, accurate and poised passer. Nathaniel Joseph has the tools to be a dangerous weapon, as the diminutive target is an explosive and shifty player who can win footraces and make defenders miss.

With Vizzina, Joseph, Ojiegbe and three-star tight end Reid Mikeska verbally committing, the Tigers hope to add more highly-touted recruits in the coming months. Some names to watch out for are four-star wide receiver Tyler Williams, four-star offensive tackle Monroe Freeling and four-star linebacker Tony Rojas, among others.

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