Tag: clemson football recruiting

Big-time WR hoping to hear from Clemson, feels he ‘really connected’ with Grisham

Brandon Winton, Jr. hasn’t had a chance to speak with Tyler Grisham since he camped at Clemson earlier this summer, but the big-time receiver prospect out of Bradenton (Florida) IMG Academy is hoping that the Tigers are among the schools that reach …

Brandon Winton, Jr. hasn’t had a chance to speak with Tyler Grisham since he camped at Clemson earlier this summer, but the big-time receiver prospect out of Bradenton (Florida) IMG Academy is hoping that the Tigers are among the schools that reach out, come next Thursday, Sept. 1.

“Coach Grisham, when I first met him, I felt like we connected real well,” Winton recently told The Clemson Insider in a phone interview. “I liked what he did at camp. He taught me different looks and stuff that I didn’t know, going into the camp. I just like the way he let us go out there and compete.”

“It would definitely mean a lot for him to reach out,” Winton said of Clemson’s wide receivers coach. “I like him and what he’s doing at Clemson. I’m definitely rooting for them to reach out to me on Sept. 1, for sure.”

Since Winton participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp, which was the only place he camped this summer. He later made his way to the University of Miami, where he immediately picked up an offer from coach Mario Cristobal and staff. 

He also added an offer from FAMU — his first HBCU scholarship offer — adding to a list that includes Arkansas, Boston College, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Eastern Kentucky.

It’s no question that Sept. 1 — when college coaches can officially start directly contacting prospects in the class of 2024 — will be big for Winton and his recruitment. He mentions schools like West Virginia, Mississippi State and Florida, as ones that haven’t offered but have shown extensive interest.

He also continues to hear a lot from both Miami and Texas A&M.

After a small school tour, Winton has mainly been focused on getting ready for the season with his IMG teammates. He transferred from the Webb School of Knoxville (Tenn.) back in January, after totaling 580 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in nine games as a sophomore. 

“My goals, really for myself, are to make as many plays that I can,” Winton said. “Show a lot of off-the-ball plays like when I don’t have the ball in my hands, making plays for my other teammates — really downfield blocking.”

Playing a national schedule makes gameday visits more difficult, but Winton would like to try to schedule some after he gets in contact with some coaches around the country come next Thursday.

Winton, who visited Clemson for the Florida State game last year, would consider visiting Memorial Stadium again this fall.

“Most definitely,” he said. “If they reach out to me on Sept. 1, I’m definitely gonna get back up there.”

Photo by Dawson Powers // The Clemson Insider

Dear Old Clemson has loaded up our online store with some great collectables from our event for the Clemson softball team.  

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectables from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out all the different ways you can help!

Coach says Clemson’s 5-star QB commit will grow from adversity in senior season opener

If you judge Christopher Vizzina’s first outing of the season by the box score, you aren’t necessarily doing the five-star quarterback justice. He went 15-of-25 for 97 yards with no interceptions in a 48-0 loss and while it might’ve not been the …

If you judge Christopher Vizzina’s first outing of the season by the box score, you aren’t necessarily doing the five-star quarterback justice. 

He went 15-of-25 for 97 yards with no interceptions in a 48-0 loss and while it might’ve not been the start to the season that the Clemson commit wanted, his head coach didn’t see it like that.

“They had a smothering defense,” Briarwood Christian School head coach Matthew Forester told The Clemson Insider in a phone interview Tuesday. “They did a really good job of locking down our receivers. The few holes that were there, he found. The few times he had in the pocket, he sat in the pocket and he found the opening. He was accurate. We had three or four dropped balls on the night. I mean, he was very accurate, it’s just receivers dropped balls…He did a good job. He did his part distributing the ball, making the right reads and there was growth in it.”

Keep in mind, that Vizzina was one of three players on offense that had played meaningful minutes the season before. Clay-Chalkville came into last Friday’s matchup as the reigning 6A state champs with top junior prospects like four-star cornerback Jaylen Mwbake, four-star wide receiver Mario Craver, four-star offensive JacQwan McCroy and four-star quarterback Kamari McClellan.

“We just had to grow as a team,” Forester said. “It’s what we needed to do. We played a really hard team because we want to have a long run in the playoffs. We’re gonna improve and get better. We’ll be fine later on. We just ran into a really good team on Friday night.”

Forester said that not only will his team be fine, but so will Vizzina. According to his head coach, the big-time quarterback prospect had a good attitude after the game.

“The big thing is, around here we got the long-term goals in mind for this season — it’s the state championship. It’s playing in the playoffs,” Forester said. “The idea that we’ll go in and we’ll come back. We’ll get back to work. We’ll get better. We’ll improve. But, at the same time, you’re a leader on the team, and he does a good job because he’s not self-focused, he’s a team-focused person. It’s encouraging, it’s lifting up, it’s continuing to push the guys to be the best that they can be. We got to get players to rise to his level, to play at his level. And they will and he’ll be part of a process that helps that by being a good leader.”

If Friday night’s game was any indication, then Forester may be on to something. Briarwood won its first game of the season over Spain Park thanks to Vizzina’s heroics. Down 21-17 with under a minute remaining, the senior quarterback led the Lions down the field for a game-winning drive.

His last-second eight-yard touchdown pass sealed a 23-21 win.

“He hates losing like all of us do, but at the same time,” Forester continued, “he knows we’re gonna get better and it’s gonna be a special season.”

Vizzina finished with 358 total yards from scrimmage. He scored three total touchdowns, going 22-of-32 passing with 260 passing yards and another 98 yards on the ground.

With that said, did Forester have any goals for the five-star quarterback before he heads off to Clemson in January?

“I think always your goal is you come in and you’re finally a senior — it’s finally where the leadership squarely falls on your shoulders,” he said. “Being a quarterback, it’s a little bit different, but now, you’re the quarterback that’s started for four years. You’re the guy. He and his fellow seniors are just developing in leadership. I mean, all of them are gonna use this for the rest of their lives, learning to be the person that everybody looks to. And while he might’ve had that earlier in his career than most, it’s finally there’s nobody else to look to.

“And then for him, it’s not just understanding the offense, it’s total mastery of the offense. Like getting down and understanding every part…it’s feeling comfortable in the entire offense. Those are just the mental aspects, where it’s leadership, it’s mastery of the playbook. He knows it incredibly well, but it’s even the fine-tuning, even the stuff we’re adding. We want to continue to grow in that because we could all learn more. His game’s really good.”

From this point last season, Forester said that the biggest difference in Vizzina is that he’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster. His arm has even more zip and more pop on it.

It’s the natural maturation of a high school kid that’s 17 years old and entering his senior season. 

“He’s still growing. He’s still developing,” Forester said. “He’s continued to work hard in the offseason at being a quarterback. He’s fine-tuned his mechanics — he’s worked hard on those. He’s gotten into a really good spot where mechanically he’s doing a great job. Those are the small things that he works on when nobody else is around. He’s constantly trying to fix those and tweak and improve his mechanics, which he’s done. It’s just fun to watch somebody whose 6-4, 210-pounds play quarterback and can run.”

Vizzina, who started ever since he was a freshman at Briarwood, is the only quarterback that Forester has had. The Lions’ offense has grown around him. Each year he’s grown, they’ve added things to the offense and tweaked some things to fit Vizzina’s skill set.

“It’s a really neat experience to say that this offense, really in a lot of ways, is custom-made for him, because when I started, we started from the ground up,” Forester said. “We started from what he was good at and we kept evolving, finding out what those strengths are, growing those strengths. It’s been a really neat process to walk through because our offense has been built around him…For us, it’s been a really neat experience. We’ve added stuff — it’s because of his talent that we’re adding it because it works with his skill set. It’s been an enjoyable experience.”

Dear Old Clemson has loaded up our online store with some great collectables from our event for the Clemson softball team.  

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectables from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out all the different ways you can help!

Friday Night Lights: Future Tigers shine with strong performances

A good chunk of Clemson’s class of 2023 commits played in their second game(s) of the season on Friday night. Briarwood Christian (Alabama) School five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, Westlake (Georgia) four-star cornerback Avieon Terrell and …

A good chunk of Clemson’s class of 2023 commits played in their second game(s) of the season on Friday night.

Briarwood Christian (Alabama) School five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, Westlake (Georgia) four-star cornerback Avieon Terrell and Woodward Academy (Georgia) four-star defensive end AJ Hoffler led the way with dominant performances.

In Briarwood’s 23-21 win over Spain Park (Alabama), Vizzina led a last-second come-from-behind victory. The senior quarterback led a 68-yard drive with less than a minute remaining and threw an 8-yard touchdown on an untimed down to win the game.

Vizzina finished the contest totaling 358 yards from scrimmage with three total touchdowns (two running, one passing). Vizzina went 22-of-32 passing for 260 yards while adding another 98 yards on the ground.

For Terrell, the four-star cornerback commit showed off his talent in all three phases of the game. In Westlake’s 47-7 win over Crisp County High (Cordele, Ga.), Terell returned a punt for a touchdown and had three returns of 25-yards or more.

While Woodward Academy lost 17-13 in a neutral non-conference against McCallie High (Chatanooga, Tenn.), Hoffler unofficially recorded two sacks, two tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble.

Here are other scores from games involving Clemson commits this weekend:

TE Olsen Patt Henry, First Baptist Academy (Florida): 43-0 win vs. Neumann (Florida)

OL Zechariah Owens, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (Georgia): 37-14 loss vs. Blessed Trinity (Georgia)— DID NOT PLAY (injury)

OL Harris Sewell, Permian (Texas): 17-3 win vs. Abilene (Texas)

OL Ian Reed, Vandegrift (Texas): 23-20 loss vs. Dripping Springs (Texas)

DL Stephiylan Green, Rome (Georgia): 49-0 win vs. Lithonia (Georgia) 

LB Dee Crayton, Denmark (Georgia): 17-15 win vs. Cambridge (Georgia)

LB Jamal Anderson, Mill Creek (Georgia): 49-17 win vs. Norcross (Georgia)

CB Branden Strozier, St. Francis (Georgia): 21-17 win vs. Landmark Christian (Georgia)

CB Shelton Lewis, Stockbridge (Georgia): 29-0 loss vs. Colquitt County (Georgia)

S Robert Billings, Milton (Georgia): 41-27 loss vs. Christian Brothers (Missouri)

S Kylen Webb, Sumner (Florida): 42-32 win vs. Bloomingdale (Florida) — DID NOT PLAY (injury)

* Thompson (Alabama) High’s Peter Woods and St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) High’s David Ojiegbe both play Saturday, Aug. 20.

* Rockwall (Texas) four-star WR Noble Johnson, Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Massaschusttes) four-star WR Ronan Hanafin, Archbishop Wood (Pennsylvania) three-star TE Markus Dixon and Warner Robins (Georgia) four-star DL Vic Burley were all not in action Friday.

— Stats will be updated as they come in.

Watch: Clemson’s 5-star QB commit throws walk-off touchdown pass

Briarwood Christian School opened up its season with a 48-0 loss to the reigning 6A state champs, Clay-Chalkville, on Friday, Aug. 19. The Lions were in danger of dropping their second game in as many weeks in the last minute of their home opener …

Briarwood Christian School opened up its season with a 48-0 loss to the reigning 6A state champs, Clay-Chalkville, on Friday, Aug. 19.

The Lions were in danger of dropping their second game in as many weeks in the last minute of their home opener against Hoover (Alabama) Spain Park High on Friday.

Down 21-17 with under a minute left, Clemson five-star quarterback commit Christopher Vizzina took matters into his own hands.

Vizzina drove the Lions down the field and set his team up for a chance to win. On the last play of the game, the senior signal-caller took a three-step drop out of the shotgun and found wide-open Brady Waugh streaking in the end zone.

Touchdown.

You can watch Vizzina’s 8-yard game-winning touchdown pass below.

Vizzina finished the contest totaling 358 yards from scrimmage with three total touchdowns (two running, one passing). He went 22-of-32 passing for 260 yards while adding another 98 yards on the ground.

Big-time Texas OL loving life as a Clemson commit

Ian Reed is loving life as a Clemson commitment. The big-time offensive lineman and consensus four-star prospect from Vandegrift High School (Austin, Texas) gave his verbal pledge to Dabo Swinney’s program earlier this summer, and he couldn’t be …

Ian Reed is loving life as a Clemson commitment.

The big-time offensive lineman and consensus four-star prospect from Vandegrift High School (Austin, Texas) gave his verbal pledge to Dabo Swinney’s program earlier this summer, and he couldn’t be happier about his college decision.

“It’s been awesome – just nothing but good things from the community that supports me,” Reed said to The Clemson Insider recently of being on board with the Tigers. “They’re just amazed how I’m committed to Clemson. I love Clemson, and Clemson’s going to be home forever.”

The bond between the commits in Clemson’s 2023 class has been getting stronger, and Reed expects it to become even tighter when he and many of the others arrive on campus as midyear enrollees in January.

“It’s been growing, for sure,” he said. “We’ve got to spend more time with each other, but most of the commits are probably coming in early, so we’ll get to spend a lot more time around each other. For sure I love my other future teammates. They have the same goals as I do and the same mindset as I do, and we want to go win championships and just continue the success Clemson has consistently had.”

As for Reed’s relationship with Clemson’s coaching staff, it continues to develop as well as he communicates with them regularly, including offensive line coach Thomas Austin.

“Just talking to them like probably once a week,” Reed said. “I know it’s the dead period right now, but we’ve just been talking over text message, and sending me love and support and just talking to me about life. I love Coach Austin. He’s a great guy, great coach.”

The last time Reed traveled to Tiger Town was in late July, when he attended the All In Cookout and had a blast with his fellow recruits and future coaches at Clemson’s signature summer recruiting event.

“Everyone enjoyed it,” he said. “It was super fun just seeing each other again, hanging out with the coaches again, just having a great time with each other basically, seeing the families again and having a good time relaxing and playing games and all that. It was awesome to me.”

Reed’s parents and youngest brother accompanied him to the cookout, and his mother came away impressed after her first experience at Clemson.

“It was my mom’s first time visiting campus, and she loves it,” he said.

Clemson beat out schools like Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Texas, among others on Reed’s list of around 30 scholarship offers, to land his commitment back on June 7.

The consistency of Swinney’s program, and the coaching staff he has put in place, are a couple of things that played a big role in Reed’s decision to be a Tiger.

“Just the continued success that Clemson has, the vision that they have for you as a man of life and just as a player too, that really stuck with me,” he said. “I love how the coaches are very honest and transparent, and they’ll love you hard and they’ll coach you hard at the same time. I just really like that. With the new staff Coach Swinney got, this is a really great staff, development staff too. They like to develop you, and he’s got high-quality coaches. So, I’m really excited about that.”

Reed was the first offensive line commit in Clemson’s 2023 class, and he has since been joined by a couple of other big-time O-line prospects – Permian High School (Odessa, Texas) four-star Harris Sewell and Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.) four-star Zechariah Owens.

Each of them is ranked as a top-150 national prospect, regardless of position, by at least one of the major recruiting services.

“I’m really excited to work with (Owens) and Harris,” Reed said. “They’re very talented O-linemen, too. They’re physical, they’re mean, they’re fast, they’re agile, they’re mobile, and they’re very good people, too, and very good people to work with. So, I’m just really excited to be their teammate.”

Reed certainly looks forward to enrolling at Clemson in January and beginning his collegiate career, but first, he is focused on taking care of business during his senior season at Vandegrift.

“I’m very excited about that,” he said, “but I’m just going to take it one step at a time, help my team, help finish and complete our goals for my high school team and what we want to do first, and then it’s on to Clemson and start again basically. So, I’m really excited about the midyear enrollee stuff and just getting ready to work.”

What can Clemson fans expect to see from Reed on the Tigers’ offensive line in the future?

“Someone that’s loyal,” he said. “I’ll give 110 percent every play. I’m physical and mean, athletic, very smart. I have a great bend, speed off the edge, too. Just a mauler and physical.”

Reed is ranked as high as the No. 14 offensive tackle and No. 147 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals.

–Photo courtesy of Ian Reed on Twitter (@Ian_Reed72)

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.   If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

You’ve got mail: TCI answers your recruiting questions

The Clemson Insider has decided to take a relatively old concept and put a new spin on it. As we already introduced on our message board, TCI will field weekly recruiting mailbag questions, which will be answered in an article format. We’ll choose …

The Clemson Insider has decided to take a relatively old concept and put a new spin on it. As we already introduced on our message board, TCI will field weekly recruiting mailbag questions, which will be answered in an article format. We’ll choose questions to answer and provide you with the most relevant information regarding Clemson recruiting.

Without further ado, we took a crack at answering some of your mailbag questions. It should be noted that the questions have been edited for clarity.

Q: Any RB recruiting news? I get the sense we may just let the RB position go this cycle. If so, where are they looking to fill in place of it?

I can assure you that Clemson will likely add a running back in this class, it’s just a matter of when rather than if. As of now in the Rivals top-250, the only remaining uncommitted running back has been crystal balled to Notre Dame as of Thursday afternoon. 

When you head over to 247Sports, three uncommitted running backs are ranked in the top 35 at their position.​​ That includes Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Dillard High’s Christopher Johnson, a one-time Clemson target, who is more than likely Miami-bound and Wichita (Kansas) Heights High’s John Randle II.

We introduced Randle as a name that we’ve heard in some circles in last week’s mailbag. While the four-star running back is ranked as the No. 20 running back in the nation, per the 247Sports composite, you’re looking at a player whose recruitment is still waiting to take off.

I believe Clemson will be looking at uncommitted prospects like the two mentioned above, who are waiting for their recruitments to take off. 

Prospects like Andrew Paul, a one-time Clemson target, who, unfortunately, tore his ACL during his freshman fall camp at the University of Georgia. Before Kirby Smart and Georgia got involved with Paul, as well as others like Notre Dame, Oregon and Michigan, it was CJ Spiller on the sidelines for one of his playoff games, while he was mainly being recruited by programs like TCU and Colorado.

As I said before, Dabo Swinney and his staff are good at identifying talented prospects like Paul, who break out during their senior season and probably don’t get the attention they deserve on the recruiting trail.

Q: With the 2023 class rounding to a close, surely the staff is starting to put some focus on 2024 kids. Any early names you can throw out to keep an eye on?

Was hoping someone would ask this question, so thank you!

I’m not gonna go position by position breakdown, but I’ll throw out some names worth keeping an eye on:

  • Willis (Texas) High five-star QB DJ Lagway
  • Charlotte (North Carolina) Providence Day School five-star QB Jadyn Davis
  • Savannah (Georgia) Cavalry Day School four-star QB Jake Merklinger
  • Kennesaw (Georgia) North Cobb High four-star RB David Eziomume
  • Greensboro (North Carolina) Grimsley High four-star WR Alex Taylor
  • Burlington (North Carolina) Hugh M. Cummings four-star WR Jonathan Paylor
  • Fort Lauderdale (Florida) St. Thomas Aquinas High four-star WR James Madison II
  •  Dorchester (South Carolina) Woodland High four-star OT Kam Pringle
  • Dillon (South Carolina) High four-star OT Josiah Thompson
  • Leesburg (Virginia) Tuscarora High four-star OT Fletcher Westphal
  • Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward’s High four-star OT Ben Roebuck
  • Hiram (Georgia) High three-star OT Jameson Riggs
  • Greenville (South Carolina) High three-star OT Blake Franks
  • Atlanta (Georgia) Pace Academy four-star DL Hevin Brown-Shuler
  • Norcross (Georgia) Meadowcreek High four-star DL Champ Thompson
  • Jefferson (Georgia) High five-star LB Sammy Brown
  • Atlanta (Georgia) Woodward Academy four-star LB Andrew Hines III
  • Olney (Maryland) Our Lady Good Counsel HS four-star LB Aaron Chiles
  • Navarre (Florida) High four-star LB Zavier Hamilton
  • Marietta (Georgia) Walton High four-star LB Wendell Gregory
  • Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) St. Joseph’s Prep School four-star CB Omillio Agard
  • Chesapeake (Virginia) Oscar Smith High four-star CB Assad Brown, Jr.
  • Nashville (Tennessee) Lipscomb Academy four-star CB Kaleb Beasley
  • Tampa (Florida) Carrollwood Day School four-star CB Tavoy Feagin
  • Lagrange (Georgia) Troup County High four-star S Noah Dixon
  • Buford (Georgia) High five-star ATH KJ Bolden
  • Lilburn (Georgia) Parkview High four-star ATH Mike Matthews

Q: Would Clemson take another WR?

I wouldn’t say it’s out of the realm of possibility, but it would be a stretch to say that Clemson is anything more than in the mix with Lakeland (Florida) High’s Tyler Williams, who is set to make his college announcement on Sept. 27. I’d expect that decision to come down to Georgia and Ole Miss, which it seemingly has been for some time now.

Also, the work that Clemson has done on some of the receivers mentioned above like Paylor, Taylor and Madison in the class of 2024, tells me that Tyler Grisham and Co. have now focused their attention on those receivers with Sept. 1 on the horizon.

Anything can happen regarding roster attrition in college football, so I wouldn’t rule it out, but I don’t consider it likely at the moment.

Q: Do we believe Kayden McDonald will become a Clemson Tiger?

I’d maintain that Clemson remains in a good position to land his commitment, but as we’ve come to find out with recruiting, these things are fluid and could certainly change between now and the announcement date of Oct. 31.

McDonald has official visits scheduled to the University of Michigan on Sept. 10 and Ohio State on Sept. 24. He has an official visit scheduled to Clemson on Nov. 26 when the Tigers play host to the University of South Carolina at Memorial Stadium. It’s entirely possible that McDonald, who visited Clemson back in July, could return to Tiger Town for an unofficial visit before he makes his scheduled decision.

Up until this point, McDonald has used only one official visit. He officially visited the University of Florida back in June and it’s rumored that he could be a visitor in Gainesville for the Gators’ season-opener against No. 7 Utah on Sept. 3.

It would be premature to determine this race to be over and we will continue to track McDonald as his recruitment winds down. In any event, we like where Clemson currently stands with him at this moment in time.

— Photo for this article courtesy of @_kmcdonald55 on Instagram.

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns as one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.  If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Clemson ‘favorite school’ of 4-star Ohio edge rusher

A highly regarded Ohio defensive lineman is highly interested in Dabo Swinney’s program. In fact, Clemson is the favorite school of Elias Rudolph, a four-star defensive end in the 2024 class from Taft High School in Cincinnati. “Clemson is actually …

A highly regarded Ohio defensive lineman is highly interested in Dabo Swinney’s program.

In fact, Clemson is the favorite school of Elias Rudolph, a four-star defensive end in the 2024 class from Taft High School in Cincinnati.

“Clemson is actually my favorite school in college,” Rudolph told The Clemson Insider recently.

“I like everything about Clemson – the color, the football atmosphere, the location. It’s just a school that I admire. I don’t watch too much of college football, but a Clemson game, that’s a game I’m wanting to see.”

Swinney is a head coach that the 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior can see himself suiting up for in the future.

“He’s a good coach,” Rudolph said. “He’s a real good defensive line coach, so I can see myself playing for him, just to get better and develop my craft.”

Another thing about Clemson that appeals to Rudolph – the nation’s No. 16 edge recruit and No. 181 overall prospect in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings – is the fact the Tigers have consistently produced NFL defensive ends over the years.

“That’s good to know that my favorite school is sending players that play at my position to the league,” he said. “So, that’s definitely a school I can see myself playing at.”

Rudolph has never made the long-distance trip to Tiger Town from the Buckeye State, but he would jump at the chance to visit Clemson if the opportunity presents itself moving forward.

“If I get the chance, I’m coming down to see Clemson,” he said. “That’s an opportunity I wanna take.”

Rudolph said he recorded nine tackles and three sacks in his team’s season-opening victory last week. His goal is to finish his junior campaign with at least 20 sacks and 100-plus tackles.

“My effort is outstanding,” he said, describing himself as an edge rusher. “Every play I play, I’m going to give it 110 percent. That’s what I think my best factor is. But I’m a speed rusher, so I get to the backfield real quick, and I know how to read the ball, where the ball’s at and read the offense to see different personnel.”

Schools such as Ohio State, Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have offered Rudolph, who said he’s “trying to let this process play out” as far as his recruitment and decision timeline.

“Probably after my junior year, or if my junior year doesn’t seem like a good time to make that decision, I’m going to wait till after my senior year or before, like during the middle of the season,” he explained.

What is Rudolph looking for as he goes through the recruiting process and tries to find a home at the next level?

“Mainly I pay attention to the effort a school takes in recruiting me, and I can tell the difference from a coach recruiting me as a football player or a coach that can genuinely be there for me as a human being and develop me inside and outside of football,” he said. “When I make that college decision, I want to be able to call this college my home.”

–Photo courtesy of Elias Rudolph on Twitter (@EliasRudolph6)

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.   If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Talented New York TE interested in learning more about Clemson

Clemson has expressed interest in a class of 2024 tight end, who hails from the Empire State. Brooklyn (New York) Erasmus Hall’s Jaylin Ballew – a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior tight end/athlete – is interested in finding out more about the Clemson …

Clemson has expressed interest in a class of 2024 tight end, who hails from the Empire State.

Brooklyn (New York) Erasmus Hall’s Jaylin Ballew — a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior tight end/athlete — is interested in finding out more about the Clemson football program, after the Tigers invited him to come down and camp this summer.

“I get a couple of letters in the mail every now and then and I get a couple of messages because they can’t legally contact us until Sept. 1 of my junior year,” Ballew told The Clemson Insider in a phone interview earlier this month. “I get letters and stuff like that, inviting me to camps and trying to get down on campus.”

When asked if he hopes Clemson is among the schools that reach out to him come next Thursday, Sept. 1, Ballew didn’t hesitate.

“Of course,” he said. 

“It would definitely mean a lot,” Ballew continued. “It would definitely be a surprise to me. It would definitely be a school that I would consider. I would like to learn a lot more about the program if they were to offer me.”

What’s Ballew’s initial impression of Dabo Swinney’s program?

“They look like a very fun program,” he said. “I follow them on Instagram and they have slides and stuff in their facility. It looks like a very fun, loving and caring program.”

Ballew maintains that schools like Rutgers, Ole Miss, Tennessee, West Virginia, Syracuse and Florida are the ones showing the most interest at this time in his process. He currently holds offers from programs like Jackson State, Miami, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Tennessee and Texas A&M, as well as some interest from Penn State.

He didn’t have an opportunity to camp at schools across the nation this summer, as New York’s public school systems don’t get out until late June. While Clemson invited Ballew to come down to camp on multiple occasions, he said he was unable to make it and since July has focused on getting better for his upcoming junior season, which is set to kick off on Sept. 9.

Ballew said that he would like to make game day visits to Notre Dame and Oklahoma. He also wants to check out West Virginia, and the University of Florida and possibly make his way back to Rutgers this fall.

Ballew considers himself to be an offensive asset, who is bigger than safeties and faster than linebackers, which creates mismatches and a lot of opportunities in the open field. He prides himself on his pass-catching ability while also considering blocking an aspect of his game that he wants to improve on.

He wants to show college coaches around the country that he can get dirty and put his hand in the ground when need be.

“I’m looking to stay healthy, of course, and strengthen my hands better,” Ballew said regarding the upcoming season. “Just working hard, getting my hand-eye coordination down and hitting my goals.”

Those goals include, obviously, winning a championship.

— Photo for this article courtesy of Jaylin Ballew.

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns as one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.  If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Coach Speak: Coach goes in-depth on what Clemson is getting in DB commit

While Robert Billings’ senior season is already underway, The Clemson Insider wanted to get a better feel for the four-star safety out of Alpharetta (Georgia) Milton High and who he is as a person on and off the field. Who better than his head coach …

While Robert Billings’ senior season is already underway, The Clemson Insider wanted to get a better feel for the four-star safety out of Alpharetta (Georgia) Milton High and who he is as a person on and off the field.

Who better than his head coach at Milton, Ben Reaves?

TCI spoke with Reaves in a phone interview over the weekend. He detailed the Clemson class of 2023 commit’s journey to become the player he is up until how he performed in the season opener of his senior campaign against Lipscomb Academy this past Friday.

“He did really well,” Reaves said. “The thing about his senior season — and this just speaks to his character and the character of some other seniors on the team — we’re returning five starters out of 22. And, we got a lot of sophomores starting, several freshmen. The word that kind of circulates around Robert and our team is that this is a rebuilding year. Robert and some other guys have come together and said, ‘Not on my watch. This isn’t a rebuilding year. We’re gonna reload and do what we do. And I’m gonna make sure that happens.’”

Billings is out there playing with a passion and playing with fire. Not only for the Milton football program, but for all the doubters who are skeptical about the Eagles this season.

In Milton’s 17-7 loss to Lipscomb Academy, which is coached by former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, Billings accounted for seven solo tackles (one for loss), a pass breakup and went 1-of-1 passing for 15 yards on a trick play.

The Nashville-based school is coming off a state championship and the last time they came to the Peach State, they scored 76 points. While the game could’ve gone either way, the Eagles had a busted coverage due to some miscommunication, which Billings was not involved in, and then they went on to miss two field goals. 

“I was proud of him and the team the other night,” Reaves said. “Like I said, returning five starters — a lot of guys that have never touched the field before were playing the No. 20 team in the nation. We fought with them every single play, tooth and nail…regardless, our team fought every play and they didn’t stop until that clock hit zero and Robert was one one of the main ones leading the charge.”

Reaves continued to speak highly of Billings as a player but also wanted to touch on his character as well.

“Just as a person and a player, he’s just such a good example of what it means to be a Milton Eagle,” Reaves said. “He’s one that’s trusted our process, trusted his coaches. In this day and age, where everybody wants to play varsity as a freshman and wear No. 1 as a freshman and not work your way up the totem pole — he’s the one that trusted us when we asked him to do that. Always remained humble through it. Never questioned anything we were doing as coaches. And he’s one I’ll always use as an example to younger kids of when you trust the guys around you and you buy into what the program has to offer for you, good things will happen.”

Billings is a soft-spoken guy in the hallways of Milton High and off the field, but once he puts the pads on, he hits really loud.

“He’s trying to wreak havoc and take somebody’s head off every time he gets the chance to tackle,” Reaves said. “So, he’s definitely that tone setter on defense that you love to have. It also just makes me feel better knowing that he’s the last line of defense. If something were to break down up front, I know he’ll find a way to keep those guys out of the endzone.”

Billings is super athletic and could be a big-time prospect on both sides of the football. His ball skills, movement and speed are just that good. According to Reaves, Billings could be an “incredible” receiver.

“He’s got great hands,” Reaves said. “Normally at the DB position, they say the difference between a DB and a receiver is that one can catch and one can’t, but he can get up there and snag it.”

That’s exactly what Mickey Conn, Wesley Goodwin and Dabo Swinney saw when they recruited Billings to come to Clemson. Billings announced his verbal pledge to Swinney’s program back on July 31, but had informed Clemson’s coaching staff of his decision during the program’s All-In Cookout a week or so prior.

“He’s gonna be a great fit at Clemson,” Reaves said. “Obviously, we’ve had two other guys (Paul Tchio and Joseph Charleston) that signed there that have since both transferred, which is unfortunate…but just what I know about the family atmosphere, the accountability, the All-In mindset — that’s what Robert is. That’s what he craves to be around and he’s gonna thrive in that environment.”

Looking at Billings’ high school career, he sat on the bench for his first two years. He sat there and put faith in the Milton coaching staff and trusted the process. Reaves thinks he’s gonna be able to rely on those moments when he gets to Clemson and continues to grow and thrive there when he goes from being one of the top safeties in the state to back to being a freshman again at one of the top program’s in the nation.

“I have no doubts he’ll do well there and he’ll be All In,” he added.

Once he does arrive at Clemson, what can Clemson fans expect out of Billings?

“The thing about Rob is once he’s on the field, he’s gonna do something to be noticed,” Reaves said. “It’s not gonna take long for the fanbase to pick him out because he’s a heat-seeking missile where the football is and he’s gonna try to do something to get that entire stadium rocking. So, you got a player that not only has all the attributes that you have to have to go to Clemson, but a player that can bring a lot of energy to the stadium and the fanbase. They’re gonna have a blast watching him and waiting for him to make that next big hit that’s gonna get everybody going.”

Is there anything that Billings’ head coach would like to see the big-time safety prospect improve on before he heads to Clemson?

“I think he’s gonna put in the work,” Reaves said. “He’s gonna continue to get better. Just for his age and where he’s at in his career, he doesn’t have big-time deficiencies. There’s not a ton of stuff that he needs correcting before getting to Clemson. Of course, there’s stuff that he can always improve on and he’ll continue to do that, but I think my main goals are more on the personal level. I feel like he’s given so much to this program that I want to make sure that whenever he leaves this program, he feels like we prepared him to be a good man, prepared him for college and what’s at stake there. And felt like we gave him as much as he’s given us.” 

— Photo for this article courtesy of Robert Billings.

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns as one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.  If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Sunshine State QB loved Clemson experience, hopes to visit again

A talented signal-caller from the Sunshine State, drawing interest from several Division I FBS programs, traveled to Tiger Town earlier this summer. South Plantation High School (Plantation, Fla.) quarterback Jadyn Glasser – a 6-foot-1.5, 190-pound …

A talented signal-caller from the Sunshine State, drawing interest from several Division I FBS programs, traveled to Tiger Town earlier this summer.

South Plantation High School (Plantation, Fla.) quarterback Jadyn Glasser – a 6-foot-1.5, 190-pound junior in the class of 2024 – showed well while camping at Clemson back in June.

“I did really good, and the coaches liked me,” he said to The Clemson Insider recently.

Glasser garnered positive feedback about his camp performance from offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter, whom the promising prospect could envision himself being coached by in the future.

“He said I have real good form, and he says I spin the ball and throw it pretty well,” Glasser said of what he heard from Streeter at camp.

“I can see myself working with him,” he added. “He’s hard on you, but he knows what he’s doing for sure.”

Glasser’s trip to Clemson for camp marked his first time in Tiger Town.

“Real small city. That’s OK, though,” he said. “But I really like the facility and the weight room and all the stuff they have there for the players.”

Glasser categorizes himself as a pro-style quarterback, one that can make every throw and be mobile when he needs to.

In South Plantation’s preseason game against Hallandale High (Hallandale Beach, Fla.) last Friday, Glasser went 19-of-30 passing for more than 300 yards and threw for three touchdowns while leading his team to a win.

“It’s going good,” Glasser said of his prep for his junior season. “Put on some good weight, some muscle, got faster. Been working on myself and balling.”

Glasser has an offer from Edward Waters University, while he is getting interest from schools such as Florida State, Miami, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Maryland.

Clemson is a school that Glasser is certainly interested in and would love to earn an offer from.

“It would mean a lot,” he said.

“They’re a powerhouse,” he added of Dabo Swinney’s program, “and kind of disappointed on how they did last year, but I believe that they will come back and be on top again.”

Glasser would be glad to have another opportunity to visit Clemson at some point moving forward.

“I really hope so,” he said. “I love the experience I had over there.”

–Photo courtesy of Jadyn Glasser on Twitter (@GlasserJadyn)

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.   If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.