Latest Clemson visit made local OL target feel like ‘a priority’

Clemson once again played host to a top local offensive line target this week. Greenville (S.C.) High School four-star Blake Franks returned to Tiger Town on Tuesday. It marked Franks’ third visit to Clemson since the start of last month. The …

Clemson once again played host to a top local offensive line target this week.

Greenville (S.C.) High School four-star Blake Franks returned to Tiger Town on Tuesday.

It marked Franks’ third visit to Clemson since the start of last month. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound junior in the class of 2024 also made his way to campus for the Syracuse game on Oct. 22 after attending the NC State game on Oct. 1 — his first time witnessing a game at Death Valley in person.

The Clemson Insider caught up with Franks after his latest experience at Clemson this week.

“It was good,” Franks said of the visit. “I really enjoyed being able to talk to the staff one on one. It made me feel like I was a priority.”

During Tuesday’s visit, Franks spent the majority of his time with offensive line coach Thomas Austin but also had the chance to talk with head man Dabo Swinney as well as senior director of recruiting Jordan Sorrells.

“I heard overall their value on faith, family, friends, me as an athlete, and the development I would get there,” Franks said of what he heard from the coaches.

Franks, who received an offer from the Tigers in late July, made the visit with his mother.

“She said she really enjoyed the campus and the staff,” he said.

The overall best part of the visit for Franks personally was being able to take a full campus tour and get a feel for what it’s really like to be a Tiger.

“Just getting to see the campus for the first time and experience the true life of a Clemson Tiger,” he explained.

Franks released a top eight last month featuring Clemson along with South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Miami, Alabama and Florida State.

Where do the Tigers stand with him right now after his latest trip to campus?

“I think they’re a possible top three in my opinion,” he said.

Franks has also been to each of the other schools in his top eight this season.

He’ll be back in Tiger Town for his third gameday visit to Clemson later this month.

“I only have one more visit planned and that’s to Clemson vs. South Carolina (on Nov. 26),” he said, “but I also might go back to South Carolina for the Tennessee game (on Nov. 19).”

Franks said he is hoping to make his college decision in December.

He is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, which considers him the No. 4 prospect in the Palmetto State, No. 8 offensive guard nationally and No. 250 overall prospect in the country for the 2024 class.

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Clemson set to host top QB prospect Saturday

Clemson will play host to a top young quarterback prospect this weekend. Findlay (Ohio) High School’s Ryan Montgomery – a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore in the class of 2025 – will be a headlining visitor for Saturday’s game vs. Louisville at Death …

Clemson will play host to a top young quarterback prospect this weekend.

Findlay (Ohio) High School’s Ryan Montgomery — a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore in the class of 2025 — will be a headlining visitor for Saturday’s game vs. Louisville at Death Valley.

Montgomery, a top-100 national recruit in his class, also made a trip to Tiger Town this past summer.

“It was awesome,” Montgomery told The Clemson Insider regarding his Clemson visit. “What was cool was Tajh Boyd was with us the entire time. He’s on staff now at Clemson, so that was really cool to see. The amount of former players that are on staff now at Clemson is just unreal, like it’s the most of any place I’ve ever been to. That speaks measures by itself. The visit itself went really well. We toured around the campus and the facilities and went out to dinner.”

Montgomery is the younger brother of 2023 four-star offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, whom Clemson was among the final suitors for before he verbally pledged to Ohio State earlier this year.

Ryan is ranked as the nation’s No. 89 overall prospect in his class regardless of position by Rivals. He holds offers from Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee and others.

“I’d say I’m more of a prototypical quarterback,” Ryan told TCI when asked to describe himself as a player. “I’d say I’m more of a dropback passer. The one thing I’d say is that I’m a really good leader and my work ethic is second to none.”

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Standout Peach State WR staying in touch with Grisham

The Clemson Insider caught up with this standout Peach State receiver that’s on the Tigers’ recruiting radar. Johns Creek (Ga.) High School’s Kyle Vaka – a 6-foot, 170-pound junior in the 2024 class – has been keeping in contact periodically with …

The Clemson Insider caught up with this standout Peach State receiver that’s on the Tigers’ recruiting radar.

Johns Creek (Ga.) High School’s Kyle Vaka – a 6-foot, 170-pound junior in the 2024 class – has been keeping in contact periodically with Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham.

“Me and Coach Grisham stay in touch from time to time. I think I texted with him last week,” Vaka told TCI recently. “I texted with him. I let him know I was watching – I think it was the NC State game – so, seeing those guys ball out, and I like to text him and let him know I’ve been watching their receivers and seeing them ball out, sending him some of my tape, and he appreciates it. He encourages me, and I appreciate staying in touch with him.”

Vaka has traveled to Tiger Town a bunch of times. He made his way to campus for a couple of games last season, went to this year’s spring game in April and participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp this past summer for the second year in a row – not to mention a couple of other trips he has made to visit his sister, who actually attends Clemson.

Most recently, Vaka made an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Louisiana Tech game on Sept. 17, and he is looking to return to campus multiple times in the offseason.

“Going to make it up for spring game hopefully,” he said. “Definitely going to be camping there, and I really look forward to my relationship with Clemson and Coach Grisham and how that grows.”

Along with Clemson, Vaka is getting interest from Vanderbilt, SMU, Rice and William & Mary. He visited Vanderbilt in September, went to Rice two weekends ago, SMU this past weekend and plans to see William & Mary and Vanderbilt again over the next couple of weekends.

“I’m just keeping in touch with those schools and putting my explosive plays on film and just controlling what I can control,” he said.

Vaka just wrapped up a strong junior campaign and finished it with a bang on Oct. 28, when he posted seven receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns (75 and 80 yards).

Entering that game, Vaka had tallied 30 catches for 493 yards and three touchdowns on the season while logging 11 explosive plays of 20-plus yards.

Vaka, who also returned punts and kickoffs for his team this season, has been invited to the Georgia Elite Classic, the state’s premier All-Star game.

“The season as a team, it’s been a little bit of a struggle, losing a ton of seniors, a whole new coaching staff came in,” he said. “So, myself, I’m just trying to control what I can control. I’ve been grateful to put a ton of explosive plays on tape.”

Ideally, Vaka would like to have his recruitment wrapped up heading into his senior season next year, but he’s just playing things by ear as the recruiting process progresses.

Right now, his sights are simply set on working as hard as possible this offseason.

“I know I’m going to run track and train as hard as I can, put on muscle and weight and control what I can control in terms of how hard I work,” he said. “I know that God will take care of the rest and the offers and all that will come in due time, and I’m just going to put my head down and work.”

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4-star safety, top-100 national recruit has ‘always loved’ Clemson

Clemson recently played host to this highly touted defensive back from the Peach State. Buford (Ga.) High School four-star safety TyShun White, a top-100 national prospect in the 2024 class, made his first-ever trip to Tiger Town for the Tigers’ …

Clemson recently played host to this highly touted defensive back from the Peach State.

Buford (Ga.) High School four-star safety TyShun White, a top-100 national prospect in the 2024 class, made his first-ever trip to Tiger Town for the Tigers’ game against Syracuse on Oct. 22.

“The visit to Clemson was real good,” White told The Clemson Insider. “I got to see the environment, meet the coaches and got to see how Clemson’s defense plays.”

White, ranked as high as the No. 5 safety and No. 81 overall prospect in his class by Rivals, came away impressed by the environment at Death Valley during what was a top-15 matchup.

“The atmosphere was crazy,” he said. “My family, they really liked the atmosphere also. It was a good atmosphere. The fans, they rushed the field after the game, so that was pretty cool to see that. The crowd was crazy every third down. It’s crazy.”

The 6-foot, 185-pound junior liked what he saw from Clemson’s defense, which shut out Syracuse in the second half en route to the 27-21 win over the Orange.

“I like how their defense plays,” he said. “They play a lot of man coverage. That’s what Coach (Wes) Goodwin was telling me, they play a lot of man coverage. So, it’s good to see that because that’s kind of what we do at my high school now, play a lot of man coverage.”

Speaking of Goodwin, White was able to talk with the Tigers’ defensive coordinator in the locker room after the game and had the chance to sit down and chat a lot with co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Mickey Conn before the game.

White also got to meet head man Dabo Swinney in the locker room after the game.

“Coach Swinney, he’s the GOAT,” White said. “I’ve been looking at Coach Swinney. Before I even got to Clemson, I had already seen the way he coaches and stuff. It’s very relating, the way he celebrates with the team. So, that was really cool to see a head coach doing stuff like that.”

It was the time White spent in the locker room after the game that provided the overall highlight of his visit.

“They were exciting to watch throughout the game, and then the locker room vibe was crazy after the game,” he said, “how they celebrated and how Coach Dabo Swinney celebrated with the team.”

White had been in contact with Clemson prior to the visit, and based on what he’s heard from Conn and other coaches, the Tigers are certainly interested in him.

“They really like the way I play,” he said. “Coach Conn really thinks highly of me, and he really talked highly of me there. So, that was really good to hear.”

White has also been to games this season at Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Virginia Tech. Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida and Texas A&M are some schools he expects to check out moving forward.

His lengthy offer list features, among many others, schools like Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.

“Everybody’s pretty even now,” he said of his recruitment. “I probably won’t have anything narrowed down until sometime next year.”

If the Tigers were to join his offer sheet in the future, White would be stoked.

“That would mean a lot,” he said. “I really admire Clemson. I always loved the way Clemson played and the environment that Clemson has. I always watched Clemson, the YouTube channel they have, the players’ vlog and stuff. I watched almost every season of that. Every day, I always watched that when I was in middle school and stuff like that. So if Clemson offered me, that would be crazy, like very exciting. And I’ve been through a lot in the recruiting (process) with Clemson. I’ve always loved Clemson.”

–Photo for this article courtesy of TyShun White on Twitter (@Thecautionchild)

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Clemson defensive tackle target commits elsewhere

A Clemson defensive tackle target in the 2023 class has committed elsewhere. Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett four-star Kayden McDonald announced his verbal pledge to Ohio State on Monday evening. McDonald (6-2, 325) chose the Buckeyes over his other …

A Clemson defensive tackle target in the 2023 class has committed elsewhere.

Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett four-star Kayden McDonald announced his verbal pledge to Ohio State on Monday evening.

McDonald (6-2, 325) chose the Buckeyes over his other finalists in Clemson, Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma.

Clemson extended an offer to McDonald in late May, and he made an unofficial visit to campus for the Syracuse game on Oct. 22. At that time, all signs pointed to a commitment to the Tigers, but things can change quickly in recruiting and that was the case with McDonald’s recruitment.

Ohio State and Oklahoma both made recent visits to North Gwinnett to see McDonald play, and the Buckeyes ended up coming out on top for his commitment.

McDonald is ranked as high as the No. 195 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals, which considers him the nation’s No. 8 defensive tackle in his class.

Although Clemson missed out on McDonald, the Tigers still hold commitments from three of the nation’s top defensive tackles in Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson five-star Peter Woods, Warner Robins (Ga.) four-star Vic Burley and Rome (Ga.) four-star Stephiylan Green.

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Versatile Georgia TE eyeing return visit to Death Valley

This tight end prospect from the Peach State, closing in on double-digit Power Five offers, made his first-ever gameday visit to Death Valley earlier this season. Milton (Ga.) High School’s Ryan Ghea, a standout sophomore in the class of 2025, …

This tight end prospect from the Peach State, closing in on double-digit Power Five offers, made his first-ever gameday visit to Death Valley earlier this season.

Milton (Ga.) High School’s Ryan Ghea, a standout sophomore in the class of 2025, traveled to Clemson for the 3:30 p.m. game against Furman back on Sept. 10.

“It was just the atmosphere overall,” Ghea said, reflecting on what stood out to him about the gameday visit. “I came for a midday game, and it was practically sold out. And then it was just how Coach (Kyle) Richardson used the tight ends in the passing game.”

Speaking of Richardson, the Tigers’ first-year passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, Ghea said he reached out to his head coach at Milton about Ghea returning to Clemson for another game this season.

According to Ghea, Richardson and the Tigers want him to come back for the Nov. 19 matchup against Miami, and that’s something he plans to do if his team’s playoff schedule permits.

“Working with my parents to get back,” he said. “Our playoffs have been moved to Sat. Waiting to see if this one is too.”

Ghea said the interest from Clemson and fact the Tigers hope to get him back on campus “means a lot” to him.

“Just trying to stay humble in the whole process and just keep my head down and work hard,” he added.

When Ghea visited Clemson for the Furman game, he was able to spend a lot of time with offensive player development coach Tajh Boyd and had some individual time with Richardson as well.

Milton (Ga.) High School 2025 tight end Ryan Ghea with Clemson passing game coordinator/tight ends coach Kyle Richardson

“I like how he envisions me there, like how he thinks that I would fit well with their culture,” Ghea said of Richardson. “When we were talking, he showed me examples of players that are in his tight end room right now that are kind of like me.”

According to Ghea (6-5.5, 220), Richardson likens him to Clemson sophomore tight end Jake Briningstool (6-6, 230).

“He compares me to him because I’m practically almost the same weight he was when he came in and I’m the same height as him,” Ghea said. “So, that’s really how he compared me there.”

How does Ghea describe himself as a tight end?

“I would describe myself as very versatile,” he said, “whether it’s blocking anybody – outside, inside the box – and then being a pass catcher, willing to come out of the backfield, on-the-line tight end, going in the slot, anywhere.”

Ghea has also attended Georgia Tech, Florida State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Cincinnati games this season.

With the exception of South Carolina, all of those schools have offered Ghea, who also owns offers from schools such as Ohio State, NC State, Louisville and Indiana.

It’s still early in the recruiting process for Ghea, and Clemson of course usually doesn’t offer prospects until the summer before their junior year.

“I would definitely, first of all, appreciate the offer. I would consider it,” he said of Clemson. “But I’m still really early with my recruiting. I’m still trying to figure out what will fit for me.”

Multiple things about Clemson stand out to Ghea when he looks at it as a potential college option, should the Tigers pull the trigger on an offer down the road.

“Definitely the atmosphere and how the gamedays are, like how it is on the field, just how it feels,” he said, “and how they use multiple tight ends.”

What will be important to Ghea whenever he makes his college decision in the future?

“Definitely the education for me,” he said. “How the education fits with what I want to do, and how they treat my family and how comfortable I feel there.”

–Photos courtesy of Ryan Ghea

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Georgia DB ‘blown away’ by Clemson, has Tigers among early favorites

Clemson has made a great early impression on this talented young defensive back from the Peach State. Onis Konanbanny (pictured right) of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee High School (Rabun Gap, Ga.) visited Death Valley for the Louisiana Tech game back on Sept. …

Clemson has made a great early impression on this talented young defensive back from the Peach State.

Onis Konanbanny (pictured right) of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee High School (Rabun Gap, Ga.) visited Death Valley for the Louisiana Tech game back on Sept. 17 and told The Clemson Insider he had a “phenomenal and really amazing” experience.

It was the first-ever college football game visit for the 6-foot-2, 170-pound sophomore in the class of 2025.

“I really enjoyed the visit, it was amazing!” Konanbanny told TCI. “I was blown away. My favorite part was the energy in the locker room after the game, the hype warmup and hype video.”

Clemson is among the schools that Konanbanny is highest on at this early juncture of his recruiting process.

“To be honest, any D1 school that would pull the trigger (on an offer) and treat me like family I would consider my favorite,” he said, “but my favorite schools would be Clemson, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon State and Michigan.”

Konanbanny, who also visited Coastal Carolina for its game vs. Old Dominion on Oct. 15, looks forward to hopefully returning to Death Valley for another gameday visit in the future.

“It would be a pleasure and a honor to come back to a Clemson game if I get invited again!” he said.

Konanbanny has plenty of time to take visits, build relationships and compile offers, and with multiple years of high school still ahead of him, ultimately plenty of time to figure out where he wants to continue his academic and athletic career down the road.

But what will be important to him when it eventually comes time for him to make his college choice?

“A place I can call home, a place where I am wanted and can make an impact on the program,” he said, “a place with a good education and a great environment.”

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Dream ‘accomplished’: Local standout commits to Clemson, details decision with TCI

Clemson picked up a commitment Saturday afternoon from a standout local prospect. Daniel High School (Central, S.C.) athlete Misun Kelley announced his verbal pledge to the Tigers via Twitter. Prior to his announcement, the talented class of 2023 …

Clemson picked up a commitment Saturday afternoon from a standout local prospect.

Daniel High School (Central, S.C.) athlete Misun Kelley announced his verbal pledge to the Tigers via Twitter.

Prior to his announcement, the talented class of 2023 recruit was kind enough to speak with The Clemson Insider about his decision.

“I committed there because it’d be a great fit for me and I want to be in the College Football Playoff, also,” he said, “and I just want to be held to a higher standard and be able to live life after college football just in case it doesn’t work out for me.”

Kelley, who chose Clemson over a slew of other offers, explained what separated the Tigers from his other two finalists in Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.

“They’re a really good football team,” he said of Clemson. “They send receivers to the league a lot. The thing about Clemson is that I know I can play there as a freshman in some way, doesn’t matter – special teams or just getting reps, it would always be a good thing.”

Kelley originally committed to Virginia Tech in early September, and after withdrawing his pledge from the Hokies on Oct. 6, he reported an offer from Clemson a day later.

The Tigers offered the 5-foot-11.5, 177-pound senior as an athlete, and it’s to be determined whether he will play receiver or defensive back for Dabo Swinney’s team.

“They offered me as an athlete, so I guess they can see me fitting in on both sides,” he said. “They’re going to pick whichever one they feel like I have a career at, and that’s where they’re going to put me.”

Kelley, who made an unofficial visit to Tiger Town for the Syracuse game last Saturday, said he’s known for sure since this past Monday that Clemson is the place where he wanted to continue his academic and athletic career.

The Tigers’ staff was “pretty hyped” when Kelley informed them of his decision, he said, and his relationship with the coaches was a big factor in his college choice.

“That’s another reason why I committed,” he said. “As a recruit you need relationships like that because you’re giving somebody that you don’t really know basically your life and you’re trusting them with it.”

Kelley, who was named to the Shrine Bowl earlier this month, plans to enroll at Clemson next summer.

“It’s very exciting, since I grew up watching them and I’ve always wanted to be a part of something like that,” he said of starting his career at Clemson next year. “This is like another one of my dreams is accomplished. So, I’m very excited about that and being able to work with some great players and great coaches.”

What is Clemson getting in Kelley, both as a player and person?

“Just a very great player, a player who puts a lot of effort in, somebody who can make plays,” he said. “I work very hard, too. Just a great player and a great person.”

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Tigers ‘definitely at the top’ for Alabama DL after visit, offer

Among the prospects who visited Clemson for the Syracuse game last Saturday and left campus with an offer from the Tigers in tow is Malik Blocton, a standout defensive tackle in the 2024 class from Pike Road (Ala.) High School. Clemson defensive …

Among the prospects who visited Clemson for the Syracuse game last Saturday and left campus with an offer from the Tigers in tow is Malik Blocton, a standout defensive tackle in the 2024 class from Pike Road (Ala.) High School.

Clemson defensive tackles coach Nick Eason paid special attention to Blocton when he participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp this past summer, and Blocton received an offer from Auburn via Eason back in October 2021 when Eason was still on the coaching staff there.

Pike Road (Ala.) High School 2024 DL Malik Blocton with Clemson defensive tackles coach Nick Eason at Death Valley on Saturday, Oct. 22 (photo courtesy of Malik Blocton)

So the two have a longstanding relationship, and it was Eason who conveyed the Clemson offer to Blocton (6-3, 270) on Saturday.

“Coach Eason told me I had the offer,” Blocton told The Clemson Insider, “and I was really excited when I got it.”

As for Blocton’s trip to Tiger Town on Saturday, it was highlighted by Clemson’s head coach.

“This visit was really fun, and the highlight of the visit was getting to meet Coach Swinney,” Blocton said.
“His energy is amazing!”

The three coaches Blocton spoke with the most while on campus were Eason, defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall and defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, all of whom he feels treated him like a priority prospect.

“They all were very excited about me,” Blocton said, “and they made me feel like I wasn’t just any other player.”

Blocton has also been to Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee this season.

Along with Clemson, Auburn and Tennessee, he has brought in offers from schools such as Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri and Maryland among his 20-plus total offers.

Where does Clemson stand with Blocton following a great visit and big offer last Saturday?

“Clemson is definitely at the top of my offer list,” he said.

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Local Clemson target previews this weekend’s college decision

On Tuesday, a local standout and Clemson target set his commitment date. Daniel High School (Central, S.C.) class of 2023 athlete Misun Kelley announced that he will reveal his college decision at 3 p.m. Saturday. Kelly, a 5-foot-11.5, 177-pound …

On Tuesday, a local standout and Clemson target set his commitment date.

Daniel High School (Central, S.C.) class of 2023 athlete Misun Kelley announced that he will reveal his college decision at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Kelly, a 5-foot-11.5, 177-pound senior and Shrine Bowl selection, told The Clemson Insider on Tuesday that he knows where he’s going.

All that’s left for him to do is let the public know his college choice this weekend.

“It feels pretty good to get it wrapped up,” Kelley said of the recruiting process in an interview with TCI previewing his decision. “I’m looking forward to it, just to not be able to be stressed out about recruiting anymore, just have the place I’m going in my mind already set.”

Clemson, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma were the finalists for Kelley, he said, and he commented on why his decision came down to each of those schools.

Clemson: “Clemson, because it’s the hometown school. I can play there early. I could really be their guy since they’re able to watch me a lot since I’m at Daniel High School.”

Virginia Tech: “Virginia Tech, because I know I can play there early as a freshman as soon as I walk in, and I know that I’m their guy.”

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma, just because I know they need help on the receiver side of the ball and I know that’s what I want to play in college.”

Kelley originally committed to Virginia Tech in early September, and after withdrawing his pledge from the Hokies on Oct. 6, he reported an offer from Clemson on Oct. 7. The Tigers offered him as an athlete, and it remains to be seen whether he would play receiver or defensive back for Dabo Swinney’s team if he went to Clemson.

Speaking of Swinney, Kelley had the chance to spend more time with the Tigers’ head coach last Saturday during his unofficial visit for the Syracuse game, and Kelley feels his relationship with Swinney and his staff “got a lot stronger.”

“It was pretty good, pretty fun,” Kelley said of the visit. “Just something I like to do, like be around the coaches, be around people that’s trying to do the same thing as me.”

Kelley plans to be a summer enrollee at his school of choice.

What will that school be getting in him as a player and person?

“A very hard worker, a very good person,” he said. “I like to talk to people. It’s not always about football for me, but when it’s about football I’m pretty serious about it, and I like to work out a lot. If I’m not at school, I’m most likely at the gym or something like that.”

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