Tag: clemson football recruiting

Clemson ‘eye opening’ for Texas 5-star DL

Clemson is always keeping tabs on the nation’s best prospects. Among them is Allen (Tx.) five-star defensive linemen David Hicks. Hicks (6-4, 255) is the No. 5 defensive linemen and No. 18 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247sports …

Clemson is always keeping tabs on the nation’s best prospects.

Among them is Allen (Tx.) five-star defensive linemen David Hicks.

Hicks (6-4, 255) is the No. 5 defensive linemen and No. 18 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247sports Composite rankings.

He recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his time at Clemson this summer and his current recruitment.

Hicks’s main point of contact at Clemson is Tigers’ defensive tackles coach Todd Bates. He characterized his relationship with Bates as “pretty good,” but they’ll obviously continue to strengthen their current connection.

He made it up to Clemson for Dabo Swinney Camp and an unofficial visit earlier this summer.

“It was amazing,” Hicks said of his Clemson experience. “It was very eye-opening for me to be able to see Clemson.

Hicks’s feedback from Bates was pretty simple. He told Hicks that he’s a really good player and was very impressed with what he displayed throughout the camp.

“They like how aggressive I am with my hands and how I just play football,” Hicks added.

Hicks was officially offered by Clemson on June 1, when the Tigers handed out their first round of offers to the 2023 class.

For Hicks, that Clemson offer meant a lot. He likes the way the Tigers go about their business, waiting to build relationships with prospects before offering them.

So, what is Hicks looking for in a school at the next level?

“I’m looking for a place that just feels like home,” he said.

In addition to Clemson, Hicks visited 14 schools this summer. He was able to see a handful of programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Missouri.

Clemson has definitely stood out for Hicks, though.

“Clemson is a very good school,” Hicks said. “They’ll probably be in it to the end of my recruitment.”

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Clemson in Final 5 for nation’s top-ranked tight end

The nation’s top-ranked tight end dropped his final five schools on Wednesday evening via social media. Greer (S.C.) four-star Jaleel Skinner is down to Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Florida State and Miami. Skinner (6-5, 210) is ranked as the No. 1 …

The nation’s top-ranked tight end dropped his final five schools on Wednesday evening via social media.

Greer (S.C.) four-star Jaleel Skinner is down to Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Florida State and Miami.

Skinner (6-5, 210) is ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the country and the No. 78 overall prospect in the 2022 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Clemson got Skinner back on campus in June when he participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp. He also made an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Charlotte game in September 2019.

The Tigers extended an offer to Skinner last October.

Skinner took official visits to Alabama, Miami, Texas and Florida State in June.

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5-star staying in touch with Clemson, ‘would love’ return visit

Clemson continues to stay in touch with a five-star defensive lineman from the West Coast that was on campus last month. Tacoma (Wash.) Lincoln High School’s Jayden Wayne, one of the country’s top prospects in the class of 2023, camped at Clemson on …

Clemson continues to stay in touch with a five-star defensive lineman from the West Coast that was on campus last month.

Tacoma (Wash.) Lincoln High School’s Jayden Wayne, one of the country’s top prospects in the class of 2023, camped at Clemson on June 5 and remains in regular contact with Tigers assistant coach Todd Bates.

“I talk to Coach Bates every week,” Wayne said.

What is Bates’ message to the 6-foot-5, 245-pound pass rusher?

“Don’t doubt myself,” Wayne said. “They want to offer me, but they do things different. Keep building the relationship.”

Although he doesn’t yet have an offer from the Tigers, Wayne is high on the program and said he “would love to” return to Clemson for a game this coming season so he can see Death Valley and sit down with Dabo Swinney.

“Looks pretty hype. Coming down the hill!” he said of his thoughts on Clemson’s game-day atmosphere from what he’s seen on TV.

Added Wayne regarding his impressions of Swinney: “He’s a chill coach. A family guy. Treats his players like family.”

Wayne’s list of over 30 total offers features schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M.

Looking ahead, as it stands now, Wayne has a timeframe in mind for when he wants to narrow down his list and make his commitment decision.

“Sometime after my season next year,” he said.

If Clemson throws its hat in the ring with an offer before then, the Tigers would stack up well with the other contenders in his recruitment.

“Definitely somewhere at the top,” he said.

Wayne is ranked as high as the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2023 class regardless of position by Rivals, while 247Sports bills him as the No. 5 defensive lineman nationally in the class.

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Looking Ahead: Running Back

After signing two running backs as part of the 2021 class in five-star Will Shipley and four-star Phil Mafah, landing a running back is not a critical need for the Tigers in the 2022 class, though they remain in the hunt. Clemson continues to track …

After signing two running backs as part of the 2021 class in five-star Will Shipley and four-star Phil Mafah, landing a running back is not a critical need for the Tigers in the 2022 class, though they remain in the hunt.

Clemson continues to track some running backs, and one of those on the radar is Jennings (La.) four-star Trevor Etienne, of course the younger brother of former Clemson running back Travis Etienne.

Etienne participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp and attended the Tigers’ Elite Retreat in June. If he returns to campus for the All In Cookout this month as expected, it figures to further help Clemson’s chances with the nation’s No. 13 running back, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Beyond Etienne, the Tigers have only offered two other running backs in the 2022 class — five-star Emmanuel Henderson and four-star Branson Robinson. Henderson has already verbally committed to Alabama, while Robinson no-showed Clemson’s Elite Retreat and is down to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee ahead of his scheduled decision date July 22.

Looking ahead to the 2023 class, Clemson has offered just two running backs in the next cycle, including the nation’s No. 1 running back in Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, Fla) five-star Richard Young and the nation’s No. 3 back, Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA) four-star Justice Haynes.

Young (pictured above) was recently offered directly by Dabo Swinney on an unofficial visit to Clemson’s campus. 

Young (6-0, 190) is the No. 1 running back and No. 17 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247sports Composite rankings. 

As a sophomore last season, Young rushed for 982 yards and eight touchdowns on 100 carries, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt.

The Tigers have spent a little bit more time on Haynes, who took his unofficial visit back on June 1. He officially received an offer from the Tigers nearly 23 days later. His patience and high character paid off, leading to a fateful phone call with Clemson running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

On the behalf of Clemson’s offensive coaching staff, Spiller rewarded Haynes with the offer he had been waiting for.

“It means a lot,” Haynes said of receiving an offer from the Tigers. “Clemson is a prestigious school, they do things differently around there. Like I said, yes, it’s one of my dream schools, for them to offer me, it means a lot.”

Haynes (5-10, 195) is the No. 3 running back and No. 72 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247sports Composite rankings. 

For now, Clemson has maintained its focus on Young and Haynes. 

Much less so, Rueben Owens, who is the nation’s No. 2 running back in the 2023 class. Even before he de-committed from the University of Texas, Owens was supposed to visit Clemson earlier this summer. That never took place and he hasn’t heard much of anything from Clemson or Spiller for that matter. 

It appears, at least for the time being, that the Tigers are keeping their options limited, as far as the running backs in the Class of 2023 are concerned.

Some other running back prospects we are keeping tabs on are Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork’s Jarvis Green and Miami (Fla.) Norland four-star Javin Simpkins, who is a Georgia Tech commit.

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Golden State standout DB likes the ‘vibe’ at Clemson

Clemson has become connected to a California high school powerhouse because of its starting quarterback. That’s allowed for others from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA.) to make that cross-country trip to The Valley. Prospects like 2024 DB Peyton …

Clemson has become connected to a California high school powerhouse because of its starting quarterback.

That’s allowed for others from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA.) to make that cross-country trip to The Valley. Prospects like 2024 DB Peyton Woodyard, who camped and had the opportunity to visit Clemson earlier this summer.

Woodyard recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his time at Clemson and just what he’s been hearing as far as his recruitment is concerned.

Woodyard hasn’t been in contact with Clemson since his visit, but when he was on campus, he spoke at length with three members of the Tigers’ defensive coaching staff — defensive coordinator Brent Venables, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and safeties coach Mickey Conn.

“They really like me,” Woodyard told TCI. “Coach Conn said they would have offered me if I wasn’t a ’24, but I definitely want to get back up there after this season.”

Hailing from California, distance isn’t going to play a factor in Woodyard’s eventual decision. He’s just looking for the best fit, whether that be Clemson or somewhere closer to home.

“I had a great time at Clemson, the whole vibe there was awesome,” he said. “They’re a real faith-based program. I got to meet Coach Reed, Coach Conn, Coach Venables and also got to meet the head coach, Coach Swinney. It was just a really awesome experience, there’s just a great vibe that you get from being at Clemson.”

‘They’re definitely a school that I would like to keep up there in my recruiting in the future,” Woodyard added. 

Obviously, playing at St. John Bosco, Woodyard is connected to the Uiagalelei family. He hangs out with Matayo on the weekends and has had some opportunities to speak with D.J. Woodyard conversed with them when he visited Clemson last month.

“They have nothing but good things to say about the program,” Woodyard said of the Uiagalelei family. 

For Woodyard, that gives him great confidence in continuing to build a relationship with the coaching staff at Clemson.

During his time at Swinney Camp, Woodyard spent his time working in a group with defensive backs. He got to work out with both Reed and Conn, where he participated in 1-on-1s, pressing at corner and playing off and inside.

What type of feedback did Woodyard get from Clemson’s coaches?

“Definitely just my readiness and being able to go out there and compete with all the upperclassmen, being an incoming sophomore,” he said.

Woodyard takes great pride in being able to play beyond his age group, which is something he’s done for all of his football career.

Woodyard certainly views himself as more of a defensive back. At Bosco, he’s labeled as a safety, but his school really has him play all over the defensive backfield. Woodyard considers himself a fast and physical ballhawk, who’s a complete defensive back that can more than hold his own at cornerback, nickel and safety.

That level of versatility should give him an upper edge at the next level.

Speaking of the next level, in addition to Clemson, Woodyard took visits to Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Southern Cal. He’s planning on making his way to UCLA later this month.

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Top Texas DE building ‘great’ relationship with Hall

Clemson is keeping tabs on some of the top prospects in Texas as the Tigers continue to extend their footprint in The Lone Star State. One of those recruits is Cy Ranch (Cypress, Texas) 2023 four-star defensive end Ashton Porter, who is currently …

Clemson is keeping tabs on some of the top prospects in Texas as the Tigers continue to extend their footprint in The Lone Star State.

One of those recruits is Cy Ranch (Cypress, Texas) 2023 four-star defensive end Ashton Porter, who is currently ranked as the No. 31 defensive lineman in the 2023 class, per 247Sports’ rankings.

Porter has been keeping in touch with Clemson defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall, who is planning on making the trip to Texas to see Porter play this upcoming season.

“It’s great,” Porter said of his relationship with Hall. “We talk almost every week since the visit. I’m just building a relationship with him right now.”

Porter believes that if he continues to build that relationship with Hall, then an offer will eventually come.

So far, Clemson has put forth a great first impression.

“I love it,” Porter said. “I just like how they didn’t offer me off the bat like other schools have. They want to build a relationship with me, so they get to know who I am.”

For Porter, that means a lot.

Porter spoke to Hall about getting up to Clemson for a game back on his visit. He just has to find out what game he’ll be attending first, but he’s excited for a game day in The Valley.

So what is Porter looking for in a school at the next level?

His answer was simple. He’s looking for somewhere that feels like family and where he’ll fit right into a team’s defensive scheme. 

Porter sees that in Clemson so far. He would translate as a defensive end in the Tigers’ four-man front that they run.

Hall likes Porter’s ability to get off the ball, his hands and aggression, he said. All of those attributes are the aspects of Porter’s game that he prides himself on.

This season, Hall wants to see Porter play with his left hand down. Right now, Porter plays on the right side with his right hand down. He doesn’t view it as a difficult task, it’s just something he’s going to have to get used to.

Porter would like to rack up 15 sacks in 2021. He had eight sacks last season, so he’s looking to nearly double his sack total from the year before. In addition to Clemson, Porter has been on visits to Alabama, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas. 

He currently holds offers from programs like Arizona State, Baylor, Cal, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan State, Ole Miss, SMU, Tennessee and Texas.

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Clemson’s ‘huge family atmosphere’ stands out to 5-star, nation’s No. 1 LB

It’s been over a month since the nation’s top-ranked linebacker in the 2023 class was on campus at Clemson, but the profound impression that the Tigers made on him hasn’t worn off. Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean five-star Drayk Bowen visited Tiger Town …

It’s been over a month since the nation’s top-ranked linebacker in the 2023 class was on campus at Clemson, but the profound impression that the Tigers made on him hasn’t worn off.

Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean five-star Drayk Bowen visited Tiger Town on June 9 and left campus feeling a great vibe from his time around the football players and staff.

One thing about the program in particular sticks out to Bowen the most when he reflects on his visit experience.

“The huge family atmosphere,” Bowen said to The Clemson Insider. “The players could go to the coaches, and they all connected with each other really well.”

Bowen (6-2, 215) spent a substantial amount of time with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables, who rolled out the orange carpet for the No. 1 linebacker in the country per the 247Sports Composite rankings, giving him a personal tour of the campus and facilities and showing him all the bells and whistles of the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex.

Bowen has been building a strong relationship with Venables and continues to stay in touch with him on a regular basis.

“Coach Venables asks how my family is doing and then baseball,” said Bowen, a two-sport standout who also shines on the diamond, “and tells me how everything is going with him and hopes to get me down to a game this year.”

Returning to Clemson during the upcoming season is something Bowen intends to do.

“We would be going back in the fall for a game,” he said.

This past weekend, Bowen narrowed down his list of more than two dozen scholarship offers when he released a top 12 that included Clemson along with Auburn, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, NC State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.

Where do things stand with Bowen in the recruiting process now that he has trimmed his list of suitors?

“I have to go to a couple more schools and then go from there,” he said regarding his decision timeline, “but I call coaches every week from each college.”

Bowen said he doesn’t have any visits scheduled at this time.

A 2023 Under Armour All-America Game commitment, Bowen is the No. 1 linebacker and No. 25 overall prospect in the 2023 class regardless of position, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

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Offer ‘would mean a lot’ to Virginia OL

After going down to Clemson and camping at Dabo Swinney Camp earlier last month, many prospects are keeping in touch with Clemson’s coaching staff. One of those recruits is Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Virginia) 2023 three-star IOL …

After going down to Clemson and camping at Dabo Swinney Camp earlier last month, many prospects are keeping in touch with Clemson’s coaching staff.

One of those recruits is Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Virginia) 2023 three-star IOL Joshua Miller, who has been keeping in constant contact with Robbie Caldwell.

Miller called him about a week or so ago.

According to Miller, Caldwell sounded good. Clemson’s offensive line coach was proud of the big Virginia offensive lineman’s grades.

Caldwell told Miller that on July 15, he and the rest of Clemson’s offensive coaching staff are scheduled to have a meeting. 

“He said that I’m one of their top priorities right now,” Miller told TCI. “I’ve just been hearing good news, honestly, from Clemson lately.”

Miller is hoping that this meeting will materialize into an official scholarship offer. 

“It would mean a lot,” Miller said of potentially receiving an offer, “Just from watching the Clemson football program since a young age and just being a fan of the school, in general. It would just mean a lot to get an offer from the school.”

“That’s a dream school right there,” Miller added. “That’s where I want to go.”

Even without an offer, Miller and Caldwell are already forming a tight bond.

“We have a pretty good relationship,” he said. “Whenever me and Coach Caldwell talk on the phone, it’s always smiles and laughs. Honestly, he already seems like a genuine guy with his actions. When he saw me in person, he didn’t change, started acting differently. He treated me like he treated me over the phone. It’s just a good relationship as of right now, working to build on it even more.”

Miller is definitely planning on getting back down to Clemson in the fall for a game. That’s something he’s already talked about with Caldwell, but they’ll need to plan it out as the regular season inches closer.

“Without the offer, they’re still pretty high on my list because one thing I can say while I’m looking for a college too, my biggest thing is family,” Miller said. “I want to go somewhere where everything just seems like family, nothing feels forced, everybody wants to see you be better. That’s the type of vibe I’m looking for in a college and when I went up there, that’s how it was. It was just a family environment.”

That being said, what’s Miller’s overall impression of Clemson thus far?

“Obviously, everybody knows that Clemson’s a great program, but actually seeing it from the inside, I could tell that everybody there is focused on the main goal,” he said. “Everybody there’s trying to build. I could just see how determined everybody is, just to be at that top level of performers.”

Miller hasn’t had conversations with Caldwell about where Clemson envisions him at the next level. He’s willing to play anywhere that a team wants him and has the positional versatility to play all across the line. During Swinney Camp, he worked out at both tackle and guard.

“I would describe myself as an athletic, technical player,” Miller said. “I’m very athletic for my size and I’m focused on the small parts of my game. I’m not so focused on the bigger parts, but I’m the person that’s going to find my biggest weakness and work towards that and perfect it. I’m just a technical guy and I’m an all-around player.”

Caldwell likes Miller’s athleticism and his passion for the game. That would certainly play well at Clemson.

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Four-star quarterback Cade Klubnik commits to Clemson over Texas, Texas A&M

Cade Klubnik announced his commitment to Clemson on Tuesday. The Tigers offered him after missing out on five-star Ty Simpson to Alabama.

When Maalik Murphy committed to Texas in February, a two-quarterback class was not out of the question. Cade Klubnik, a four-star prospect out of Austin Westlake High School, was still in the mix. Then, Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers got involved.

Klubnik announced his commitment to the ACC powerhouse on Tuesday afternoon. Clemson offered him after missing out on five-star Ty Simpson to Alabama on Friday. Four days later, Klubnik was ready to shut down his recruitment and be the Tigers’ quarterback in the 2022 class.

Both Texas and Texas A&M were once considered the favorites for the in-state quarterback. Even with hometown programs interested, when a national power such as Clemson comes knocking, turning down the opportunity is difficult.

The recent succession of quarterbacks has been impressive for Swinney, with Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence being first-round draft picks and D.J. Uiagalelei getting ready to take the college football world by storm.

Klubnik could be next on that touted list.

With Klubnik’s commitment, the dominos have fallen with the elite quarterbacks in the 2022 class. All seven signal-callers ranked inside the top 75 on the 247Sports composite are committed.

  • No. 1 overall Quinn Ewers – Ohio State
  • No. 20 overall Gunnar Stockton – Georgia
  • No. 22 overall Walker Howard – LSU
  • No. 27 overall Ty Simpson – Alabama
  • No. 36 overall Maalik Murphy – Texas
  • No. 71 overall Conner Weigman – Texas A&M
  • No. 74 overall Cade Klubnik – Clemson

Texas had extended offers to Ewers, Klubnik, Murphy, Simpson, and Weigman. Ewers was once committed to the Longhorns before opting to head north to Columbus, Ohio. Steve Sarkisian will still push for the Southlake Carroll product, but Murphy seems to be the future of Texas’ program.

Former Georgia baseball commit flips to play QB for Clemson Tigers

Bubba Chandler, who was recently committed to Georgia baseball, has announced his commitment to Clemson, where he’ll play QB and baseball.

On Wednesday, Clemson football added a commitment from quarterback Bubba Chandler, who until recently was committed to play baseball at Georgia.

Clemson offered Chandler on May 7. On May 11, he announced he’d be reopening his recruitment and that he wanted to play both baseball and football in college.

Chandler announced his decision to play both sports for Clemson via Twitter on May 20.

Out of North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia, Chandler is a right-handed pitcher and shortstop. He originally committed to play baseball at UGA in June. With Georgia not being able to offer him a football scholarship, he’s decided to attend Clemson, where he can pursue both sports.

Chandler originally did not expect to receive interest from Clemson, a school that he’s never actually taken a recruiting visit to. But when Clemson quarterback target Christian Veilleux committed to Penn State a few weeks ago, it left the Tigers looking for a signal-caller in their 2021 class. So Clemson took a swing at a two-for-one deal and it paid off.

He did, however, visit Clemson in 2018 when his friend on the football team got him to tickets to see a game in Death Valley.

“[The Clemson coaches] just watched my film, a lot of my Twitter videos, and I talked with the coaches pretty much every day on the phone,” Chandler told ESPN. “Then, of course, our high school head coach knows [Clemson safeties coach] Mickey Conn pretty well. Clemson’s coaches asked our head coach about me, my character, and I guess they liked what they heard.”

Chandler has been playing both sports for nearly his entire life, and will continue that at Clemson.

“They’re going to develop me into the best player I can be in both sports,” Chandler said. “They have a chance to compete for a national championship every year. I’ve always wanted to play football in college, and what better place to play football than at Clemson?”

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs already have another quarterback committed in the 2021 class who also happens to be from Bogart. That’s 5-star dual-threat Brock Vandagriff.

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