Tag: Collin Sadler

OL signee thrilled to play for ‘star-studded’ staff at Clemson, talks UA All-America Game experience

The Clemson Insider caught up with Greenville (S.C.) four-star Collin Sadler following his participation in the Under Armour All-America Game this past weekend. “It was great,” Sadler said. “I always enjoy going against the best competition possible …

The Clemson Insider caught up with Greenville (S.C.) four-star Collin Sadler following his participation in the Under Armour All-America Game this past weekend.

“It was great,” Sadler said. “I always enjoy going against the best competition  possible and overall, I just had a really good time down there.”

During the first day of practice in Orlando — University of Houston four-star signee Demetrius Hunter — went down with an injury. Hunter was slated to start at center, but Sadler stepped in at practice until a new center was eventually flown in.

“They asked me if I could snap and I happened to say yes when I have absolutely no idea how to snap,” he said. “I figured that out in one day. I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to get on the field. It’s just one more thing that I can add to my bag of tools.”

The All-America game presented Sadler with the opportunity to play with and against some of his future teammates at Clemson. Sadler, of course, will be an early enrollee and move into campus later this week.

“It was great. I made a whole lot of friends down there. I made some relationships that I’m sure are gonna last a really long time. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to go down there and do that.

“I already know Jeadyn Lukus really, really well, just growing up close to each other. I mean, that’s my dog. But, I got to know Adam Randall really, really well on this trip. I just really enjoyed getting to know him.”

Sadler’s looking forward to the entire 2022 class coming in and being difference-makers, but he’ll be doing so under a new offensive line coach.

Dabo Swinney announced following Clemson’s Cheez-It Bowl win that Robbie Caldwell would be stepping down from his role as Clemson’s offensive line coach and transitioning into an off-field role, where he will serve as the team’s director of high school relations. Thomas Austin will be Caldwell’s on-field replacement.

Sadler was aware that Caldwell would likely be stepping down from his role. Caldwell was very upfront with Sadler and his family about what was going to happen, they just weren’t sure when. He told Sadler the day before early signing day — Dec. 15 — that he would be stepping down following the Cheez-It Bowl, just in case that was a deal-breaker.

“I knew it was coming,” Sadler said. “I’ve already gotten to know Thomas Austin really, really well. The relationship we have is special as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do, now that he’s taking over.”

“First and foremost, he’s a great guy,” Sadler said of Austin. “He’s a great husband, a great father to his kids. That’s something that really resonates with me, more so than just being a good coach, just knowing that he’s a good person. He has NFL experience. He knows exactly what it takes to get there. I’m really excited to learn from him.”

For Sadler, it’s comforting that Caldwell will still be a part of the program in some way. He considers Caldwell to be family and a grandfather-like figure in his life.

All things considered, Sadler felt like Clemson handled Caldwell’s succession plan with grace.

“Most definitely,” he said. “One thing I’ve learned about Clemson — especially this year — is they always have a plan for everything. Even though there was an outside-in, sort of seemingly ‘catastrophic ‘coaching change, they had a plan for it. They put things in place very quickly. There were no hiccups.”

Sadler is thrilled to play for what he calls a “star-studded” coaching staff in Austin, offensive analyst Tyrone Crowder and offensive graduate assistant Brandon Thomas.

That’s three former Clemson offensive linemen. Who better to learn from?

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Caldwell raves about in-state OL signee

In this year’s recruiting cycle, Clemson found success in its own backyard. The Tigers signed 4-of-5 of the Palmetto State’s top-rated prospects in the 2022 class, getting players like Greenville (S.C.) four-star offensive tackle Collin Sadler, to …

In this year’s recruiting cycle, Clemson found success in its own backyard.

The Tigers signed 4-of-5 of the Palmetto State’s top-rated prospects in the 2022 class, getting players like Greenville (S.C.) four-star offensive tackle Collin Sadler, to stay home.

Sadler (6-5, 300) officially signed with Dabo Swinney’s program on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for class of 2022 football recruits.

He’ll be enrolling early and rooming with Strongsville (Oh.) four-star offensive tackle signee Blake Miller.

Swinney referred to Sadler as another “giant of a man,” during the program’s National Signing Day Show.

And while Clemson’s head coach expounded on Sadler’s nastiness and the edge he brings to the trenches — as well as how far he is along physically — it was Robbie Caldwell, who raved about everything from Sadler’s work in the weight room to his character off the field.

“He’s the type you like because you’ll have to run him out of the weight room,” Caldwell said via Sadler’s official Clemson bio. “He loves it. He loves to compete in everything he does — including school — he’s a 4.0 student. Great character, all around the school everybody loves him.

“The public gets to see him play football and everybody knows that he’s a good player, but what they don’t get to see is the kind of young man he is — great character, great student.”

While he’s a fine young man off the field, he’s been recognized plenty for his work on it. He is ranked as high as the No. 10 offensive tackle and No. 80 overall prospect in the 2022 class by Rivals.

Sadler plans to play in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando (Fla.) on Jan. 2, 2022, just a week before he officially arrives on campus.

Sadler helped his high school to a 10-3 record and spot in the state semifinals. That’s the furthest Greenville has ever reached in the state playoffs.

However, they came up four days short of their end goal. So, the competitor in Sadler will likely carry that chip on his shoulder all the way down the road to Clemson.

“I love what he’s going to bring to Clemson and bring to the o-line room,” Clemson’s offensive line coach said. “He’s a physical guy, that will finish you. He loves to finish blocks. He goes to the whistle, now, and you just love that about him. He will grind you up.”

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Caldwell set to conduct in-home visit with four-star OT commit Wednesday

As The Clemson Insider previously reported, Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell is set to make an in-home visit with a class of 2022 commit on Wednesday. While Caldwell, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott …

As The Clemson Insider previously reported, Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell is set to make an in-home visit with a class of 2022 commit on Wednesday.

While Caldwell, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott stopped by Greenville High School last week to visit, Wednesday will be about spending time with just four-star offensive tackle commit, Collin Sadler.

Each and every visit with the staff just reaffirms to Sadler that he’s making the right decision in coming to Clemson.

“One thing that I really did learn, especially from [last week’s visit], is all the coaches at Clemson, they don’t change if you take them out of their playing field,” he said. “That was something that really just affirmed everything for me. Not only do they not change every time I go visit them, but they also don’t change when they come to visit me. They’re the same people no matter what or where they are.”

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‘Incredible’ visit with Clemson coaches reaffirms decision for 4-star OL commit

This past Wednesday, Clemson’s coaches hit the recruiting trail to meet with some in-state class of 2022 commits at a local high school. Head coach Dabo Swinney, offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tony Elliott and offensive line coach Robbie …

This past Wednesday, Clemson’s coaches hit the recruiting trail to meet with some in-state class of 2022 commits at a local high school.

Head coach Dabo Swinney, offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tony Elliott and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell made their way to Greenville High School to visit with four-star offensive tackle commit Collin Sadler and three-star tight end commit Josh Sapp.

“It was incredible,” Sadler told The Clemson Insider. “That’s the first time that coaches like that have been to Greenville High in a really, really long time. It was cool. The biggest thing that came to me was that it just wasn’t for me and Josh Sapp. That’s just building a pathway for a lot more players to come in these later years, which is really cool to me.”

Clemson’s message to Sadler has been consistent and this visit was more of the same.

“The biggest thing is it was just informative,” he said. “They just let us know the fine print of everything that was going on Signing Day and everything we gotta do. It was just really a ‘Are you guys comfortable where you’re standing with us?’ type of thing. It was a check-in. It was really like a family sitdown type of deal.”

It doesn’t dawn lightly on Sadler that he and Sapp are both a part of the same recruiting class.

“That’s really special,” Sadler said. “It’s really rare that a program of that level would come to a public high school to visit two guys who’ve already committed there and are in the same class. It was just a real honor for us. We realized that we have something really special going on here at Greenville. It’s awesome.”

Each and every visit with the staff just reaffirms to Sadler that he’s making the right decision in coming to Clemson.

“One thing that I really did learn, especially from this [visit], is all the coaches at Clemson, they don’t change if you take them out of their playing field,” he said. “That was something that really just affirmed everything for me. Not only do they not change every time I go visit them, but they also don’t change when they come to visit me. They’re the same people no matter what or where they are.”

Caldwell will be making an in-home visit to see Sadler on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Nearly a week later, Sadler will be putting pen to paper and officially signing with the Tigers.

Before he arrives at Clemson as an early enrollee, Sadler will be participating in the 2022 Under Armour All-American Game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’m excited to go again, go against some national competition like I did in the five-star camp. That’s where I’m happy when I’m going against the best in the country. It’s been a dream that I’ve had since I was really little. I always wanted to be an All-American. It’s just a childhood dream come true.”

Sadler didn’t accomplish everything he wanted to do during his senior campaign. Greenville High School’s season came up just four days short of the team’s end goal.

“The fact that we were that close and came up that short, that’ll stay with me for a long time,” he said.

Though, Sadler met some goals he set for himself, like winning the Region Player of the Year, earning All-Region and All-American accolades and last but certainly not least, going to college at Clemson.

Turn back the page to Sadler’s freshman season at Greenville. If someone were to tell him that he would accomplish all these accolades throughout his high school career and on his way to Clemson, would he have believed them?

“I would be hopeful, but I’m not sure I would quite believe them, to be honest with you,” Sadler said.

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Swinney, Tigers staying local for some of Wednesday’s visits

The Clemson Insider has learned the whereabouts of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and members of the Tigers’ offensive staff, as they hit the recruiting trail Wednesday. After making a stop in Kansas at Hays High School to see four-star linebacker …

The Clemson Insider has learned the whereabouts of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and members of the Tigers’ offensive staff, as they hit the recruiting trail Wednesday.

After making a stop in Kansas at Hays High School to see four-star linebacker commit Jaren Kanak and an in-home visit in St. Louis, MO. with five-star cornerback commit Toriano Pride, Swinney will be returning home to The Palmetto State.

He will be accompanied by Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tony Elliott, as the trio head to Greenville High School to see two members of the 2022 recruiting class — four-star offensive tackle Collin Sadler and three-star tight end Josh Sapp.

It’s also likely that Swinney, along with Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed will visit with five-star cornerback commit Jeadyn Lukus in nearby Mauldin Wednesday.

Sadler and Sapp, who are teammates at Greenville, saw their season come to an end this past Friday in a heartbreaking 21-17 loss to South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) in the Upper State Championship. Though, their respective seasons aren’t over just yet.

Sapp was selected for the North-South All-Star Football Game, which will take place in Myrtle Beach (S.C.). While Sadler was selected as an Under Armour All-American and will participate in the game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (Fla.) on Jan. 2, 2022.

Both Sadler and Sapp recently caught up with TCI about their official visit(s), which took place the weekend of Nov. 13 when Clemson hosted UConn. Here’s what they had to say:

Sadler: “It was a great time. Just being down there, being with the guys, it was just real confirmation about my decision.”

Sapp: “The visit was great. I had a great time with my new coming teammates and coaches. I can’t wait till I’m officially there.”

It’s not very often that two players from the same high school that are in the class end up committing to the same program. However, this is a unique situation for two very talented players, who couldn’t be happier with their respective decisions.

In addition to Wednesday’s visit, Clemson’s staff will also be making in-home visits with both Sadler and Sapp sometime next week.

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Clemson showing interest in recent UNCC decommit

Even when Jacob Ashley was committed to UNCC, he had been hearing sparingly from Clemson. After he decommitted from the school that he originally offered his verbal pledge to, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) three-star offensive …

Even when Jacob Ashley was committed to UNCC, he had been hearing sparingly from Clemson.

After he decommitted from the school that he originally offered his verbal pledge to, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) three-star offensive tackle’s talks with the Tigers began to heat up.

“Clemson definitely was one of the first schools to reach out to and let me know that they’re still interested,” Ashley told TCI this past weekend. “And still gonna possibly be able to work something out with a PWO offer.”

In addition to Clemson, Ashley has heard from Florida State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Mississippi State has inquired about him as well.

Ashley got on the phone with Clemson offensive analyst Thomas Austin on Friday. The two already have a preexisting history with one another. Prior to Austin returning to Clemson, he was the offensive line coach at Georgia State, where he actually offered Ashley a scholarship. Austin has kept tabs on the senior offensive lineman ever since.

“He said he’s still interested,” Ashley said. “He invited me to come up for the game this [past] Saturday against UConn. He invited me up there. I train with [Clemson four-star offensive tackle commit] Collin Sadler. Me and him are really, really good buddies. He was telling me that he had his official visit [last] weekend…we all agreed that because there were so many official visits that we might as well not visit Clemson this [past] weekend.”

Since this past weekend was dominated by Clemson’s official visitors in the 2022 recruiting class, Ashley and his parents decided that visiting Clemson another time would likely be a better idea, so he could get some more face time with the Tigers’ coaching staff.

With that being said, how does Ashley weigh the possibility of being a PWO at Clemson or being placed on a scholarship elsewhere?

“That’s actually one of the things when I went up and visited Clemson earlier this summer, that we all went out to dinner and I was talking with Coach [Robbie] Caldwell, Coach [Tony] Elliott and Coach Austin about. They were saying the exact same thing, that preferred walk-ons get treated just like scholarship players at Clemson. That’s definitely a plus…it really comes down to where it feels right to me. If I’m offered a full ride somewhere else and as a PWO at Clemson, but Clemson’s the one that feels right, then I’ll take the PWO offer.”

Ashley indicated that he needs to get up to different schools and determine what feels right and feels like home. Whether that will be Clemson remains to be seen, but Sadler has been on Ashley’s case since he announced his decommitment.

“Collin’s been on my tail ever since I decommitted about how I need to get up to Clemson,” Ashley said. “I know he wants nothing more for me and him to get up there together and we talked about how if I do come up there, we’re gonna room together and all this and that…Collin has been on my tail pushing real hard. He’s practically begging me to get up there.”

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Official visit gives Clemson OL commit ‘real confirmation’ about his decision

Collin Sadler took his official visit to Clemson over the weekend with his family and once again came away impressed. The Clemson Insider caught up with the four-star offensive lineman out of Greenville (S.C.) to get the details on his visit. How …

Collin Sadler took his official visit to Clemson over the weekend with his family and once again came away impressed.  The Clemson Insider caught up with the four-star offensive lineman out of Greenville (S.C.) to get the details on his visit.

How did you enjoy the official visit?

Sadler:  “It was a great time. Just being down there, being with the guys, it was just real confirmation about my decision.”

What was the highlight of the visit?

Sadler: “Definitely just getting to know the players a little bit better. I had already built a really good relationship with the coaches, but just really getting out there with them, that was probably the best part.”

Who came with you on the visit?

Sadler: “My parents came with me. I also came with [Josh Sapp] and his family. Him just being my teammate, just how rare it is, especially for a school like Clemson to offer two kids in the same class from the same team, that was a real bonding experience for the both of us.”

Clemson 2022 commits, TE Josh Sapp (left) and OL Collin Sadler (right), Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

How did your family enjoy the visit?

Sadler: “They enjoyed it just as much as they enjoy any other visit. They’re honestly, probably way more excited about my decision than I am. They love it up there. They absolutely have nothing but the best praises to say about it.

Who was your player host and what was it like spending time with that person?

Sadler: “It was Walker Parks. It was great. It was cool spending time with him and all the people he’s sort of friends with on the football team. I feel like I fit in very well, so did they. I’m just really looking forward to getting up there and just continuing to build relationships up there.

What did you hear from the coaches during the visit?

Sadler: “Really just a whole lot of information. Just telling us what it’s going to be like in January, going over the playbook a little bit and just getting past a little bit of recruiting and more the realistic kind of stuff.”

Does Clemson’s resilience down the stretch give you confidence coming into next season?

Sadler: “I am really excited about that. I feel like especially with the class we have coming in, I feel like we have a ton of difference makers in this class. I hope that the majority of us will get an opportunity to start early and I’m just looking forward to getting in there and doing my best to make a difference there.”

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What They Are Saying: Clemson commits impress in playoff action

A number of Clemson commits impressed with their performances in postseason action Friday night. Check out what they are saying about some future Tigers under the Friday Night Lights: 5 yard TD run by #Clemson commit and Senior Captain Cade Klubnik! …

A number of Clemson commits impressed with their performances in postseason action Friday night.

Check out what they are saying about some future Tigers under the Friday Night Lights:

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Rising in-state athlete ‘more than excited’ for first recruiting trip to Clemson

A talented local athlete seeing his recruiting stock rise this season is Mazeo Bennett, a sophomore in the class of 2024 from Greenville High School. South Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia Tech have all extended offers to Bennett …

A talented local athlete seeing his recruiting stock rise this season is Mazeo Bennett, a sophomore in the class of 2024 from Greenville High School.

South Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia Tech have all extended offers to Bennett this month, while Clemson is among other schools showing interest in the speedy and explosive wide receiver/defensive back.

Bennett (6-0, 165) has made visits this season to check out all of the schools that have offered him, and this Saturday, he will make an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Florida State game. While he has been to a few games at Death Valley in the past, it will be his first recruiting trip to Tiger Town.

“I’m more than excited to be in Death Valley this weekend!” he said to The Clemson Insider.

Bennett’s brother, Zykiesis Cannon, was a defensive back at Louisville from 2014-17, so Bennett has seen his brother play at Clemson and already has a good feel for what the environment is like during games in The Valley.

“They are intense!” he said. “And that’s something I’ve always loved about them!”

Multiple members of Clemson’s staff have followed Bennett on Twitter over the past few weeks – including wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and safeties coach Mickey Conn – and the Tigers invited Bennett to Saturday’s game through his coach.

“He informed me that they were really interested in me,” Bennett said.

Through seven games of his sophomore season, Bennett has 416 yards receiving and three touchdowns on 14 catches to go with a couple of interceptions.

“How I would describe myself as a player is a dog,” he said. “Somebody who could play both sides of the ball with no questions asked. As a wide receiver I would describe myself as a playmaker, someone who could turn nothing into something.”

Bennett is teammates at Greenville High with two class of 2022 Clemson commits: offensive lineman Collin Sadler and tight end Josh Sapp.

“They are like my best friends, especially Josh Sapp,” Bennett said. “Me and him talk every day. He has become my brother for life.”

Like Sapp and Sadler, Bennett hopes to one day have the chance to play for Clemson as well.

“An offer from Clemson would mean a lot,” he said. “Two of my teammates already being committed there, I kind of already know what to expect. Which is a school that will push you to be the best you but not only as a player but as a man.”

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5-stars headed to Death Valley for Clemson-Georgia Tech game

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game against Georgia Tech at Death Valley. Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-Georgia Tech game: A …

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game against Georgia Tech at Death Valley.

Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-Georgia Tech game:

A couple of headliners among the recruits expected to be in attendance are a couple of five-star class of 2023 prospects in Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean linebacker Drayk Bowen and Pickerington (Ohio) Central safety Sonny Styles.

Styles is the No. 1 safety in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, which tab Bowen as the No. 2 linebacker in the class.

Bowen is working with a top five that includes Clemson along with Auburn, Indiana, LSU and Notre Dame.

A big-time receiver from the Lone Star State is slated to be on hand for Saturday’s game as well in Del Valle (Texas) four-star Braylon James, the No. 11 wideout and No. 75 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

James has built a strong bond with Clemson receivers coach Tyler Grisham.

“Me and Coach Grisham are super close man,” James told TCI recently. “No matter where I go I know I’ll always have a backbone in him.”

Among other notable class of 2023 recruits on Clemson’s anticipated guest list for Saturday’s game are Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark four-star linebacker Dee Crayton, Piedmont (S.C.) Wren defensive back Travon West, Alcoa (Tenn.) offensive lineman Lance Williams, Perry (Ga.) athlete Jamari Stone and Port Huron (Mich.) Northern edge defender Luke Fletcher.

Clemson 2022 offensive line commitment Collin Sadler of Greenville (S.C.) will also be in The Valley on Saturday.

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