Tag: Clemson 2025 recruiting class

Clemson football 2025 early signing day tracker

The new Tigers who signed on early signing day.

Today is the beginning of the early signing period in college football, the time when programs around the country solidify their futures. The Clemson football program is set to steal the headlines as the Tigers welcome in a new class of talent into the program.

This signing day is an opportunity for fans to get a first look at the next wave of players representing Clemson on the field. From highly touted recruits to under-the-radar prospects, the Tigers’ coaching staff has worked tirelessly to build a strong class that aligns with the program’s championship aspirations.

We are tracking all of the news as National Letters of Intent roll in, providing live coverage of Clemson’s signees, their honors, and how they fit into the team’s future. Check back for updates on commitments, class analysis, and what it all means for the program as Clemson looks to remain competitive on the national stage.

Time Name Pos HOMETOWN // HS Bio Link
7:00 am Chris Denson QB Plant City, Fla. // Plant City HS Bio
7:01 am Easton Ware OL Lynchburg, Va. // Liberty Christian Academy Bio
7:02 am Tucker Kattus OL Cincinnati, Ohio // St. Xavier HS Bio
7:04 am Makhi Williams-Lee DT Atlanta, Ga. // Lakeside HS Bio
7:06 am Logan Brooking TE Bluffton, S.C. // Savannah (Ga.) Christian Prep Bio
7:10 am Gavin Blanchard OL Tampa, Fla. // Wiregrass Ranch HS Bio
7:23 am Rowan Byrne OL Bronxville, N.Y. // Iona Prep Bio
7:49 am Juju Preston WR Alexandria, Va. // Hayfield Secondary Bio
7:58 am Ari Watford DE Norfolk, Va. // Maury HS Bio
8:02 am Marquise Henderson ATH Belton-Honea Path HS // Belton, S.C. Bio
8:05 am Logan Anderson LB Fyffe, Ala. // Fyffe HS Bio
8:21 am Gideon Davidson RB Lynchburg, Va. // Liberty Christian Academy Bio
8:25 am Amare Adams DT Jefferson, S.C. // South Florence HS Bio
8:33 am Brayden Jacobs OL Milton, Ga. // Milton HS Bio

– Names and links via Clemson Athletic Communications

3-star Peach State defensive lineman commits to Clemson

Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class is up to 14 members after the addition of this 3-star DL from Atlanta.

The Clemson Tigers picked up a commitment Wednesday in class of 2025 DL Makhi Williams-Lee (Lakeside High School, Atlanta), who announced his pledge in a social media post to X.

Listed as 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, William-Lee is rated a three-star recruit from both 247Sports and On3. Rivals rates him as a four-star player.

Williams-Lee committed to Clemson over offers from the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Tech, NC State and others. He committed to NC State in January of this year before rescinding his pledge after receiving an offer from Clemson and taking an official visit during last Saturday’s 40-14 win over Stanford on homecoming week.

RELATED: Clemson football lands massive commitment in four-star DE Ari Watford

Clemson now has 14 total commitments (nine five-star recruits, five four-star recruits) in the 2025 class, which currently ranks No. 15 nationally by On3 and No. 17 by 247Sports.

ESPN has the Tigers’ 2025 class at No. 19 overall in their updated recruiting rankings (subscription required), released Wednesday.

 

Dalvin Cook from Clemson ranked a Top 10 biggest recruiting flip of the past decade

Dalvin Cook’s flip from Clemson is one of the biggest of the past decade.

Say what you want about Dalvin Cook as a Clemson fan; he’s one of the best running backs the ACC has ever seen. 

Cook was a nightmare in his time with the Florida State Seminoles, putting up some truly ridiculous statistics when considering his situation. Cook, playing with poor quarterback play and behind some of the worst offensive lines the Seminoles have had, didn’t care and proved to be electric.

In three seasons at Florida State, Cook ran for 4,464 rushing yards and 46 rushing touchdowns, with 79 catches for 935 yards and two touchdowns through the air. There were few in the game at the time as exciting to watch as the FSU star running back, and I’m sure, even when he was tearing Clemson up (something Tigers fans likely remember well), it was difficult to not appreciate. 

What flies under the radar when talking about Cook and Clemson is how major of a what if the program and the player are together. Cook was originally committed to Clemson in the Tigers’ 2014 recruiting class, later flipping to Florida and ending up with Florida State when it was all said and done. According to Fox Sports, it’s one of the 10 biggest recruiting flips of the last decade. 

One of the most accomplished running backs in recent memory, Cook enjoyed a standout three-year career at Florida State, but the Seminoles were not always his top pick. Early on in his recruitment, Cook made a verbal pledge to Clemson, where he was set to join Deshaun Watson as a member of the Tigers’ 2014 recruiting class. However, the former five-star running back prospect decided to head to Gainesville and visit the University of Florida for the Gators’ annual spring game and made the decision to flip to UF. After the Gators finished the 2013 season with a miserable 4-8 record, including a 37-7 loss to in-state rival Florida State in the final game of the regular season, Cook flipped to the Seminoles in December 2013 and enrolled there the following week.

Cook shined at Florida State from 2014-16, rushing for 1,000-plus yards in all three of his collegiate seasons. He finished his college career with 4,464 rushing yards and 46 rushing touchdowns, while also adding 79 catches for 935 yards and two more touchdowns through the air. He was a two-time All-ACC performer and a two-time first-team All-American. Cook opted to forgo his senior season, leaving Florida State as the program’s all-time leading rusher.

Cook was an all-time great… but did he make a mistake flipping from Clemson? If you care about National Championship wins, then absolutely.

This is an all-time college football what if. Former Clemson starting running back Wayne Gallman was a beast in his own right and had some fantastic moments in a Tigers’ uniform. His three years at Clemson with 3,429 rushing yards on 676 carries, with 34 touchdowns is nothing to downplay; Gallman was a baller.

Like every sport and pretty much everything in life, there are levels to these things, and Cook is one of the best the ACC has ever seen—a Travis Etienne-level talent. Imaging that in Clemson’s offense at the time is a scary thing.

It’s tough to say Cook made a mistake because I’m sure he likely would if he could do it all over again. He just happened to help develop one of college football’s biggest what-ifs.

Clemson ranks just outside Top 10 in updated ESPN 2025 recruiting rankings

ESPN.com ranked Clemson No. 11 in their update 2025 college football recruiting class rankings Friday.

Recruiting rankings are a year-round business with June and July particularly eventful months that see schools rise and fall.

This year is no different. To that end, ESPN released its updated 2025 college football recruiting class rankings ($) Friday. Clemson slipped one spot from No. 10 to No. 11. Oregon was the biggest riser after the Ducks landed top wide receiver recruit Dakorien Moore, who previously decommitted from LSU.

Clemson ranked one spot below Miami (No. 10) among the top ACC teams on ESPN’s list. Running back Gideon Davidson was listed as the Tigers’ top offensive recruit with safety Tae Harris as the top defensive recruit by ESPN staff writer Craig Haubert.

Haubert says of Clemson:

“Despite ranking just 15th for the 2024 cycle, the Tigers have already checked several boxes in 2025 with big commitments at multiple positions. Davidson and in-state prospect Marquise Henderson are a pair of key running back pledges. Davidson, a top-five running back, runs with a nice blend of size, speed and power. He posted impressive numbers as a junior, rushing for 2,700 yards and 43 touchdowns. Henderson is more slightly built at roughly 5-10, 170 pounds, but has explosive, big-play speed. He rushed for more than 2,300 yards as a junior. Four-star quarterback Blake Hebert missed most of his junior season with an injury, but he has good size, he has a smooth and compact delivery, and he moves well and extends plays.

On defense, the Tigers have particularly made a splash in recruiting at defensive line, having picked up commitments from three linemen on 247Sports’ Top247 list for the class of 2025.

Haubert highlighted the Tigers’ addition of Ari Watford, ranked the third best defensive end in the nation in ESPN’s rankings and the No. 31 overall player.

Adds Haubert:

“Watford is a lengthy player with good initial quickness who can develop into a disruptive edge rusher. In the trenches, Clemson landed defensive tackle Amare Adams, the top-ranked player in South Carolina. The Tigers also pulled tackle Isaiah Campbell out of neighboring North Carolina. Campbell has a big frame and good movement skills. One-time Georgia commit Tae Harris is a nice addition to the secondary. He projects to safety, but he’s versatile enough to play corner. He posted some of the top numbers on the spring camp circuit, including a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash.”

Clemson has seven players in the ESPN 300 recruiting database. The Tigers’ 2025 class is currently ranked No. 14 overall by 247Sports while On3 has them at No. 7.

RELATED: Clemson has seven recruits in updated Top247 rankings

Among the teams Clemson ranks ahead of on ESPN’s list are defending national champion Michigan (No. 12), Auburn (No. 13), Tennessee (No. 14), Texas (No. 21) and Florida State (No. 22).

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary. 

Clemson ranks Top 5 in ESPN’s updated 2025 recruiting class rankings

Clemson football’s 2025 recruiting class is in the top tier.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program live and die by recruiting in the modern age of college football. 

The Tigers were the only non-military academy that did not take a transfer in the 2024 cycle, meaning recruiting was a make-or-break for the program. Luckily for Clemson fans, Swinney and his staff excel in recruiting and have already put together one of the top 2025 classes in college football. 

While the Tigers did move down a couple spots, Clemson’s 2025 class remains in the Top 5 of ESPN’s updated recruiting class rankings ($$$).

Despite ranking just 15th for the 2024 cycle, the Tigers have already checked several boxes in 2025 with big commitments at multiple positions. Davidson and in-state prospect Marquise Henderson are a pair of key running back pledges. Davidson, a top-five running back, runs with a nice blend of size, speed and power. He posted impressive numbers as a junior, rushing for 2,700 yards and 43 touchdowns. Henderson is more slightly built at roughly 5-10, 170 pounds, but has explosive, big-play speed. He rushed for more than 2,300 yards as a junior. Four-star quarterback Blake Hebert missed most of his junior season with an injury, but he has good size, he has a smooth and compact delivery, and he moves well and extends plays.

Led by Watford, Clemson landed several defensive linemen ranked in the ESPN 300. Watford is a lengthy player with good initial quickness who can develop into a disruptive edge rusher. In the trenches, Clemson landed defensive tackle Amare Adams, the top-ranked player in South Carolina. The Tigers also pulled tackle Isaiah Campbell out of neighboring North Carolina. Campbell has a big frame and good movement skills. One-time Georgia commit Tae Harris is a nice addition to the secondary. He projects to safety, but he’s versatile enough to play corner. He posted some of the top numbers on the spring camp circuit, including a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash.

Clemson currently has 8 ESPN 300 commits and 11 total commits in the class. There is still a lot of work to do to fill out this class, but it is a phenomenal start.

The biggest target left on the Tigers board is the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class (according to 247Sports Composite rankings), David Sanders. The highly touted offensive lineman has only one crystal ball prediction currently and that is for Clemson.

This class could develop into something special if they can land a guy like Sanders.

Clemson receives crystal ball prediction for the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class

After this crystal ball prediction, Clemson may be the favorite for five-star offensive tackle David Sanders.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program have been scorching hot recruiting in the 2025 class, and things could get even hotter for the Tigers sooner rather than later.

Clemson is firmly in the hunt for five-star offensive tackle David Sanders out of Providence Day School (Charlotte, N.C.), and they may just be the favorite for the highly touted tackle after this news. On Wednesday, the Tigers received a crystal ball prediction to land Sanders by 247Sports Notre Dame Insider Tom Loy. Excellent news for the Tigers seeing a crystal ball prediction for Sanders, even if it isn’t from a Clemson insider. Loy is currently 26/26 on his predictions in this class, a clean 100%.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Sanders is the No. 1 tackle and the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class. The Tigers need help on the offensive line, and who better to assist than the top offensive lineman in the upcoming class.

Truly huge news on a Wednesday for the program, but it doesn’t by any means guarantee Sanders’ signing. Clemson is trending in the right direction here.

Clemson offers 4-star linebacker Mark Iheanachor

One of the top linebackers in the 2025 class has received an offer from Clemson.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program look to continue their scorching hot run in the 2025 class with another offer.

Four-star linebacker Mark Iheanachor took to social media Tuesday to announce that Clemson has offered him a scholarship. Clemson needs depth at linebacker, and that’s what they’re targeting here.

According to 247Sports, Iheanachor is the No. 33 linebacker in the 2025 class, earning him that four-star label. The Tigers added Sammy Brown and Drew Woodaz in their 2024 class, but there are some clear needs remaining at the position. This is one to monitor closely as the Tigers’ defense continues to build and work towards remaining elite.

Clemson offers 4-star edge rusher Chinedu Onyeagoro

A 4-star edge rusher in the 2025 class is on the Tigers’ radar.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are among the hottest teams recruiting in the 2025 class, with the Tigers offering another huge recruit in the class.

Four-star edge rusher Chinedu Onyeagoro, out of King Drew Magnet High School (Los Angeles, Calif.), took to social media Tuesday to announce that Clemson has offered him a scholarship. The Tigers look to continue to bolster their electric defensive line and pass rush with another member in the 2025 class.

According to 247Sports site rankings, Onyeagoro currently ranks as the No. 23 edge and the No. 243 overall recruit in the class. Onyeagoro didn’t start playing football until his sophomore year, and he primarily played basketball throughout his life. A transition that is not uncommon for some athletes.

Clemson lands massive commitment from four-star defensive back Tae Harris

Clemson makes another huge splash recruiting in the 2025 class.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson coaching staff continue their scorching hot run recruiting in the 2025 class.

Cedartown (Ga.) High School’s standout talent, four-star defensive back Tae Harris, has officially declared his commitment to the Tigers. Previously committed to Georgia, Harris boasts impressive rankings, with 247Sports positioning him as high as the No. 125 overall prospect in the 2025 class.

Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, the rising senior made a pivotal visit to Clemson during its March 9 junior day. With his verbal commitment, Clemson’s 2025 class now boasts a total of 11 pledges.

Following his decommitment from the Bulldogs on Jan. 21, Clemson swiftly extended an offer just a day later, seizing the opportunity to secure Harris’s talents. This is a huge commitment for the Clemson program that continues to prove they can recruit at an elite level.

Clemson makes the top 12 for the No.1 DL in the 2025 class

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers are in the hunt for the top defensive lineman in the 2025 class.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are one of the top teams recruiting in the 2025 class, with another one of the top recruits in the country naming Clemson among his top teams.

Five-star Savannah, Georgia, defensive lineman Elijah Griffin took to social media Sunday to announce his top 12 schools, with Clemson making the cut. The Tigers are competing with Georgia, Colorado, Louisville, Miami, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, USC, Oregon, Duke, and Alabama.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Griffin is the No. 1 defensive lineman and the No. 1 overall player in the class. He currently has three crystal ball predictions to commit to Georgia, with 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong being one of those predictions.