Tag: Dee Crayton

Jersey numbers for every true freshman on Clemson’s roster

Clemson’s football team has a lot of new faces on its roster, so make sure you know who makes what play by learning their jersey numbers.

Clemson will kick off its 2023 season in under two months, and for roughly a quarter of the team’s roster, it will be their first collegiate football game.

The Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class, which consists of 26 commits, was ranked No. 11 in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

Highlighted by five-star defensive tackle Peter Woods, four-star defensive lineman T.J. Parker and four-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, among others, Clemson’s freshmen class has players with high potential.

But, with so many new faces joining the team, it can be difficult to know who’s who in the first few games of the season.

To help fans keep track of those new faces, here are the jersey numbers for every Clemson true freshman on the roster, including walk-ons:

Clemson football 2023 recruiting class tracker

Clemson football is on a recruiting tear. Check out the Tigers 2023 class so far.

Updated 8/9

We are in full swing with the 2023 recruiting cycle, with this past month being a busy one for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program.

There have been ups and downs during the process, but the Tigers have had a great start in the 23′ class. Though the team has dealt with decommitments from four-star wide receiver Nathanial Joseph and three-star tight end Reid Mikeska, Clemson still ranks among the top of 247Sports 2023 recruit team rankings.

According to the 247Sports rankings, Friday’s addition of five-star defensive lineman Peter Woods has pushed Clemson up to the No.3 ranked class in the country with eleven commits and 260.28 total points.

Swinney and the Tigers are one of the hottest teams on the recruiting trail right now after snagging Woods from his home state and power house program, Alabama.

Here is a look at the Tigers’ current 2023 class with their 247Sports composite ranking:

Three-star linebacker puts Clemson in top eight

With two linebacker commits already in its 2023 class, Clemson remains in the mix for a three-star linebacker prospect.

Clemson is in the mix for a three-star linebacker prospect.

Marcellius Pulliam took to Twitter on Sunday to announce his top eight schools. The class of 2023 recruit will choose between Clemson, Auburn, Miami, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Indiana and Mississippi State.

A Sandy Creek High School (Tyrone, Ga.) product, Pulliam is the No. 49 linebacker prospect in the class of 2023, according to On3 Consensus rankings.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Auburn the edge to land Pulliam, with Kentucky and Miami right behind.

As of Monday, Clemson has 20 verbal commitments in its 2023 class, including two from linebackers Jamal Anderson and Dee Crayton.

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Clemson commits react to their official offers from the Tigers

August 1 marks the day that colleges around the nation start doling out official offers to prospects. Clemson is of course among the schools that have been sending out official offers to their commits and targets in the class of 2023, and many of …

August 1 marks the day that colleges around the nation start doling out official offers to prospects.

Clemson is of course among the schools that have been sending out official offers to their commits and targets in the class of 2023, and many of the Tigers’ pledges have been announcing and reacting to their official offers on social media.

Here’s a look at official offer announcements from future Tigers:

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5-star recruiter: New Clemson commits rave about Goodwin

Wesley Goodwin deserves his due. Clemson’s defensive coordinator waited in the wings. He was Brent Venables’ right-hand man for years. He’s as sharp as they come and one of the soundest defensive minds in the sport, but when he was hired, there were …

Wesley Goodwin deserves his due.

Clemson’s defensive coordinator waited in the wings. He was Brent Venables’ right-hand man for years. He’s as sharp as they come and one of the soundest defensive minds in the sport, but when he was hired, there were questions about his ability to recruit.

Needless to say, they’ve already been answered.

After signing a trio of linebackers in the class of 2022 — Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) three-star Wade Woodaz, Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star Kobe McCloud and Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic four-star TJ Dudley — Goodwin had his work cut out for him when it came to the rising seniors in the class of 2023.

And to say he did some heavy-lifting would be an understatement. 

Clemson has received verbal commitments from two top linebacker prospects in the class of 2023.

Both Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star Jamal Anderson and Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star Dee Crayton verbally pledged to the Tigers after officially visiting Clemson earlier this month.

Anderson (6-4, 200) is ranked as high as the No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 123 overall prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN. While Crayton (6-2, 215) is ranked as high as the nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals, which considers him the No. 10 outside linebacker in the country for his class.

“He’s such a great coach and I’m definitely excited to be coached by him,” Crayton told The Clemson Insider after he committed last Saturday. “He’s been recruiting me so hard, even before they offered. As soon as he got the defensive coordinator position, he’s always been talking to me and my family. He’s been constantly recruiting me and I was actually the first linebacker he offered when he got the position, so that definitely played a part.”

After getting to know Goodwin, Crayton wasn’t surprised at how quickly he was able to pick up where things left off. Goodwin assumed Brent Venables current role after Clemson’s former defensive coordinator left to become the head coach at the University of Oklahoma.

“It was a very smooth transition,” Crayton said. “He’s kind of like me. We both have a chillness about us and we hit it off. That relationship, it was easy for me to make. He wouldn’t call me constantly and be annoying. He would call me enough that he would still recruit me very well and just have those conversations and make it feel as natural as possible. I feel like it was definitely meant to be.”

It was also meant to be for Woodward Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) four-star defensive end AJ Hoffler, who verbally pledged to Clemson earlier this week. Once he got to know Goodwin and what he was all about, it was a wrap.

“He was already in the building and drawing up plays,” Hoffler said. “So, as far as the scheme goes, I never had concerns about that. I just didn’t know him as a person. But, once I got to know him as a person, everything checked out. I knew that on the field, he’s just as good as any other d-coordinator in the nation — he just hasn’t had the chance to do it in actual games, besides one (Clemson’s 20-13 win over Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl).

“It was just getting to know him as a person, because on the field, he’s a really, really good coach. So, once I got to know him as a person, it was good from there.”

Recruits like Hoffler and Crayton have continued to speak glowingly about Goodwin’s recruiter time after time. The success he’s had on the recruiting trail can only go up from here. Goodwin has already earned his stripes as a recruiter in six months with the results speaking for themselves.

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Changing with the times: Swinney’s adjustment to official visit policy paying off big for Tigers

Dabo Swinney has adjusted to the changing college football recruiting landscape, and one change that Clemson’s head coach made to his program’s recruiting policy has already paid off for the Tigers in a big way. For the first time in Swinney’s …

Dabo Swinney has adjusted to the changing college football recruiting landscape, and one change that Clemson’s head coach made to his program’s recruiting policy has already paid off for the Tigers in a big way. 

For the first time in Swinney’s tenure, Clemson played host to official visitors on campus in the month of June — something the Tigers hadn’t done in the past, thus marking a significant change to one of his policies. 

Of course, Swinney and the Tigers have always welcomed official visitors in the fall. However, Swinney had previously been reluctant to bring in summer official visitors, in large part because from his perspective, he believed prospects who were legitimately interested in Clemson would figure out a way to make it to campus during the spring or summer on their own dime as unofficial visitors  — or wait until the fall to take official visits paid for by the school. 

But this year, Swinney changed with the times, allowing prospects who had already been on campus at some point in the past for unofficial visits to go ahead and take official visits during one weekend in June. That resulted in a huge official visit weekend from June 3-5, when the Tigers hosted more than two dozen recruits in the 2023 class. 

“It’s only going to be for kids who have been on campus, so we really haven’t changed that part of it,” Swinney told The Clemson Insider at a Prowl & Growl event in April. “The only guys that are going to be coming in on an official visit will be people who’ve been to Clemson at some point, whether it be a game last year or they came this spring or they were in our camp, and we’ve got camps coming up. So that part of it, the actual official visit part will be a little different.”

Swinney’s Tigers have already started to reap the rewards of that change in policy and the big official visit weekend. 

Of the nine prospects that have publicly pledged to Clemson in June, six of those were on campus as official visitors during the June 3-5 weekend: First Baptist Academy (Naples, Fla.) four-star tight end Olsen Patt Henry, Vandegrift (Austin, Texas) four-star offensive tackle Ian Reed, Sumner (Riverview, Fla.) four-star safety Kylen Webb, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star linebacker Jamal Anderson, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) three-star tight end Markus Dixon and Demark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star linebacker Dee Crayton.

With those additions, Clemson’s 2023 class is currently ranked No. 3 nationally in the 247Sports Composite team rankings and No. 4 nationally by Rivals. 

Swinney expected the official visit weekend in June to provide Clemson with positive momentum going into the Swinney Camps, coming out of the camps, and going into the dead period this summer.

“I think it will be a really, really good weekend for us and give us good momentum going into camps, coming out of camps, going into the dead period in the summer,” he said. “And a lot of these kids want to get it out of the way. They want to make their decisions. So, that’s been I think a good change for us.”

That was echoed by Crayton, who verbally pledged to the Tigers this past Saturday. The Peach State linebacker praised Clemson’s recruiting efforts and indicated that having the official visit weekend at the beginning of the month, has directly correlated to the Tigers gaining all this momentum on the recruiting trail.

“The official was crazy,” Crayton said. “If players go to other schools or they see other officials, they’re comparing the Clemson official at the beginning of the month — the only one they had in the summer — they’re comparing it to other schools and they’re realizing that that’s really the standard and how at home they made us feel. That’s very smart what they did, doing it at the beginning of the summer.”

Crayton committed to Swinney on June 7 but didn’t publically disclose his decision for another 11 days. In the meantime, he did not take his other scheduled official visits to Auburn, Penn State, Missouri and UCF.

“Most of the commits, they canceled their (other) officials or they didn’t even take the officials, like myself,” Crayton continued, “because they knew that’s the best it was gonna get. They set everything and everything was organized. It was great bonding with those other top players and most of that official group is gonna commit, just stay tuned for the ones that do and the ones that don’t, we wish them the best, but it’s definitely going to be a great class.”

If what Clemson has been able to accomplish this month is an indication of things going forward, it’s more than likely that official visit weekend will be a permanent fixture on the recruiting calendar going forward.

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‘Why not be a part of a great culture?’: 4-star Peach State LB talks Clemson commitment

Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star linebacker Dee Crayton became the latest player in the class of 2023 to verbally pledge to Clemson. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound rising senior is ranked as high as the nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the 2023 …

Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star linebacker Dee Crayton became the latest player in the class of 2023 to verbally pledge to Clemson.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound rising senior is ranked as high as the nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals, which considers him the No. 10 outside linebacker in the country for his class.

In an exclusive interview with The Clemson Insider Saturday night, Crayton detailed his commitment decision and what set the Tigers apart from other finalists in his recruitment.

“The main thing was the family environment and feeling like home literally every time I was on campus,” Crayton said. “Even when I was younger, it was actually the only camp I’d ever been to as a kid before I became a recruit. Even then, they made me feel so comfortable and at home with me and my family.

“Watching Clemson growing up as a kid with that winning culture and Coach Swinney doing such a great job all these years, it feels unreal,” he continued. “So, that was a big thing as well — my relationship with the coaching staff, especially Coach Wes (Goodwin). He’s such a great coach and I’m definitely excited to be coached by him. He’s been recruiting me so hard, even before they offered. As soon as he got the defensive coordinator position, he’s always been talking to me and my family. He’s been constantly recruiting me and I was actually the first linebacker he offered when he got the position, so that definitely played a part.”

Crayton said that he felt like a priority ever since Clemson offered him back on Feb. 23. Since then, he’s received nothing but love from the coaching staff and the fans alike. That played a big role in why he chose Clemson as his next destination, as well as the distance from his home.

When we spoke with Crayton last month, he had identified the Tigers as one of the finalists in his recruitment. His Clemson official visit was up first, though, and that’s really all that he needed to see. The official visit weekend is when Crayton started to feel like he couldn’t go wrong with picking Clemson.

“Me and my family we both knew, we had a feeling it was going to be like that too, but the official just exceeded our expectations,” he said. “It’s been great every time we’ve been. It’s like, why not be a part of a great culture both on and off the field? The best is the standard is what they always say there and it really is…That official definitely set the mark for me and my family that we set in stone that Clemson was my place to be.”

That following Tuesday, Crayton called Swinney to make it official. He knew that Clemson was where he wanted to be, but he also wanted to take a couple of days to sleep on it and make sure that he was making the right decision.

Swinney was getting a haircut when Crayton informed him of his decision. It wasn’t long after that Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star linebacker Jamal Anderson, who will likely be Crayton’s roommate, did the same. The Tigers are only taking two linebackers in the class of 2023 and both of them needed to secure their spots.

Crayton returned to Clemson last week to film his commitment video. He was back on campus alongside Anderson and Warner Robins (Ga.) four-star defensive lineman Vic Burley. All three players committed to Clemson this past week with Crayton joining Saturday, continuing to add a huge Peach State presence in Clemson’s 2023 class. 

“We already know what this class is gonna bring,” Crayton said. “We know the players that’s coming, we’re just waiting for it to hit the public. We got the image in mind — we want to win. We want to compete and get each other better. We want to bring another natty to Clemson, so we’re gonna keep building this class…don’t expect nothing but the best. It’s definitely gonna be a lot more recruits in the near future…stay tuned for that.”

With the addition of Crayton, Clemson’s 2023 class now ranks No. 9 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

While Crayton plans to be an early enrollee and is taking some classes this summer to make happen, it hasn’t set in quite yet that he’ll be enrolled at Clemson and on-campus in just six months.

“It doesn’t even feel real even with this commitment,” Crayton said, “because when I was younger, just watching Clemson winning those championships, seeing those great players in the past and now I’m about to be one. I’m committed to a school where I’ve seen Coach Swinney in those big games every Saturday.”

“Coach Swinney’s a great guy,” he continued. “I’m excited to be coached by him.”

No fanbase is more passionate about winning. Clemson fans and businesses have always stepped up to provide what is needed for the Tigers to compete with the best. The college landscape has changed with name, image and likeness. Dear Old Clemson will do things the ‘Clemson way’ to support a grassroots effort to help the best fanbase in the nation meet this new challenge. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Clemson lands commitment from one of nation’s top linebackers

Clemson has landed the verbal commitment of a top linebacker prospect from the Peach State. Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star Dee Crayton announced his commitment to the Tigers around 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. Crayton chose Clemson over other …

Clemson has landed the verbal commitment of a top linebacker prospect from the Peach State.

Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star Dee Crayton announced his commitment to the Tigers around 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Crayton chose Clemson over other finalists like Auburn, Mizzou, Penn State and UCF.

He spoke with The Clemson Insider last month and revealed why Clemson was one of the finalists in his recruitment. This was prior to Crayton officially visiting Clemson from June 3-5, which seemingly sealed the deal on his commitment.

He unofficially visited Clemson again last week and didn’t make any of his other scheduled official visits.

“Definitely, something that comes right to mind is my relationship with Coach Wes (Goodwin),” Crayton told The Clemson Insider when asked why he included Clemson among his top schools. “He actually came to my practice (Monday, May 9). He’s always just recruiting me hard. We talk every day — he makes sure he calls me and we chat it up whether it’s for five minutes or 15 — we’re always just talking.”

“Just being able to see myself in the defense, and my head coach (Mike Palmieri) actually coached Trenton (Simpson),” Crayton continued. “He’s kind of aligned with Clemson in coaching linebackers. (Coach Goodwin) is coaching Trenton now, so that’s pretty cool seeing him develop and that possibly being me.”

Just over a week after getting offered by Clemson, Crayton made his way for Clemson’s second junior day of the spring. He spoke glowingly of Clemson’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at the time as well.

“He’s definitely a very determined coach and he’s good schematically,” he said. “Seeing all the different types of formations he had drawn up, it was actually surprising to me the simple formation that he just expanded just to trick the offense. He’s very smart when it comes to play calling. I love to see that. He has a great football IQ, which I also think I have. That would be very compatible, so I like to see that.

“It was good hanging out with coach. He’s a great guy. To have that much experience in the game, he’s real down to earth and he’s a dad, so he’s good with kids and stuff. That’s someone to look up to — becoming a young adult — and just going through life.”

Clemson offered Crayton back on Feb. 23.

Even without an offer, Clemson seemingly held a strong place in Crayton’s recruitment. It didn’t take long for the Tigers to become one of the favorites to land the prized Peach State linebacker.

“Man, it’s huge,” he said at the time of being offered. “The first camp I went to as a kid, not as a recruit, I remember my parents taking me there and staying overnight in the dorms. I just felt the love even then and I was too young to be recruited. It’s an amazing place, the people, the fans and coaches and all that, just the environment and atmosphere of Clemson…Clemson’s always had a special place in my heart.”

Crayton becomes the 12th commitment in Clemson’s 2023 recruiting class overall, joining Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, Warner Robins (Ga.) four-star Vic Burley, St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) four-star defensive end David Ojiegbe, Vandegrift (Austin, Texas) four-star offensive lineman Ian Reed, Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.) four-star cornerback Avieon Terrell, First Baptist Academy (Naples, Fla.) four-star tight end Olsen Patt Henry, St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star cornerback Branden Strozier, Sumner (Riverview, Fla.) four-star safety Kylen Webb, Rockwall (Texas) four-star wide receiver Noble Johnson, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star linebacker Jamal Anderson and Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) three-star tight end Markus Dixon.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound rising senior is ranked as high as the nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals, which considers him the No. 10 outside linebacker in the country for his class.

Clemson linebacker target locks in commitment date

A priority linebacker target for Clemson in the 2023 recruiting class has set his commitment date. Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star Dee Crayton announced via social media Wednesday morning that he will announce his commitment at 2 p.m. Saturday. …

A priority linebacker target for Clemson in the 2023 recruiting class has set his commitment date.

Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star Dee Crayton announced via social media Wednesday morning that he will announce his commitment at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Crayton made an official visit to Clemson from June 3-5.

Last month, he dropped his final five schools via social media, revealing Clemson, Auburn, Mizzou, Penn State and UCF as his finalists.

“Definitely, something that comes right to mind is my relationship with Coach Wes (Goodwin),” Crayton told The Clemson Insider when asked why he included Clemson among his top schools. “He actually came to my practice (Monday, May 9). He’s always just recruiting me hard. We talk every day — he makes sure he calls me and we chat it up whether it’s for five minutes or 15 — we’re always just talking.”

“Just being able to see myself in the defense and my head coach (Mike Palmieri) actually coached Trenton (Simpson),” Crayton continued. “He’s kind of aligned with Clemson in coaching linebackers. (Coach Goodwin) is coaching Trenton now, so that’s pretty cool seeing him develop and that possibly being me.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound rising senior is ranked as high as the nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals, which considers him the No. 10 outside linebacker in the country for his class.

–Photo courtesy of Crayton (@Run_DMC8) on Twitter

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Top prospects flocking to Tiger Town: Previewing Clemson’s big official visit weekend

Clemson’s big official visit weekend is here. A slew of Clemson’s top targets will be on campus for their official visits this weekend, as the Tigers play host to official visitors in June for the first time under head coach Dabo Swinney. It’s …

Clemson’s big official visit weekend is here.

A slew of Clemson’s top targets will be on campus for their official visits this weekend, as the Tigers play host to official visitors in June for the first time under head coach Dabo Swinney. It’s something they haven’t done in the past, and Swinney recently went in-depth on the change in their official visit policy, explaining that the only prospects being brought in for June official visits are ones who have already been on campus at Clemson in the past for unofficial visits.

TCI has confirmed that more than two dozen prospects in the 2023 class will be making their official visits to Clemson this weekend, including the Tigers’ four commitments.

The official visit weekend runs from today through Sunday, with a casino/game night, Clemson Scavenger Hunt and dinner at Swinney’s house among the highlights on the schedule over the course of the weekend.

As the Tigers get set for the big official visit weekend, The Clemson Insider breaks down the official visitors by position and gives a rundown of the names expected to be on campus this weekend:

Quarterback

Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) Christopher Vizzina (committed)

Vizzina committed to Clemson on April 12 over schools like Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Auburn, Ohio State and Georgia.

“It really came down to I went across the country, I went to so many different places and normally a guy from Alabama kind of stays South, doesn’t visit the North and I mean, I went everywhere,” Vizzina said. “And I just kept coming back to Clemson and I kept realizing there’s nowhere else like Clemson.

“I was sold on that. I’ve been building these relationships with the coaches forever now. I mean really a couple of years. It was really a no-brainer.”

He understands the significance of this weekend from a recruiting class standpoint and will certainly do his job as the vocal leader of this class. Vizzina is said to be having a good feeling about this weekend, which certainly bodes well for Clemson.

Running Back

Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic four-star RB Jeremiah Cobb

Cobb released his final four in late May, including Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and Texas. This, of course, came after the 5-foot-11, 185-pound rising senior became one of the latest recipients of a Clemson offer on May 12.

“They’re pretty high up over most of these schools,” Cobb said. “It’s a really great program filled with great people.”

Cobb, a consensus four-star prospect, is considered by 247Sports to be the nation’s No. 19 running back and the No. 295 prospect in the nation for the class of 2023.

Wide Receivers

Lakeland (Fla.) four-star WR Tyler Williams, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (Cambridge, Mass.) four-star Ronan Hanafin, Edison (Miami, Fla.) four-star WR Nathaniel Joseph (committed) and Rolesville (Raleigh, N.C.) four-star WR Noah Rogers

In early May, Williams dropped a top-10 featuring Clemson along with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Southern Cal and USF. The Tigers extended a scholarship offer to Williams on Jan. 29, when he visited for the program’s elite junior day. Williams told TCI after he got offered that he would be put in a “great position” if he were to go to Clemson.

Hanafin earned an offer from the Tigers after he made an unofficial visit on March 31. Speaking recently with TCI, Hanafin indicated that the Tigers have had made him a priority and he’s in constant contact with both Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham.

Joseph, a four-star prospect from Edison High School in Miami, Fla., became the first commit in Clemson’s 2023 class when he announced his verbal pledge to the Tigers on Sept. 10, 2021.

Rogers dropped a top-five last month featuring Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State, North Carolina and N.C. State. The Tigers extended a scholarship offer to Rogers on Jan. 12. Rogers (6-2, 180) is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of North Carolina for the 2023 class by all the major recruiting services. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he is the No. 10 wide receiver and No. 59 overall prospect in his class.

Tight Ends

First Baptist Academy (Naples, Fla.) three-star TE Olsen Patt Henry and Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) three-star TE Markus Dixon 

Henry, who picked up an offer from the Tigers earlier last month, dropped a top schools list featuring Clemson, Minnesota, Duke, Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Henry, who lists close to 20 total offers, mentioned Rutgers, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisville and Oklahoma as the schools recruiting him the hardest at the time he spoke with TCI.

The Tigers have not yet offered Dixon, who is considered by both Rivals and 247Sports to be the nation’s No. 27-ranked tight end in the 2023 class. In addition to Clemson, Dixon is planning on visiting Oregon, Cincinnati and Texas A&M. Dixon included all three schools mentioned above in his top-10 list, which he dropped in early February. Those remaining seven programs are Pitt, Rutgers, Georgia, Florida State, Ole Miss, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Offensive Linemen

Odessa (Texas) Permian four-star IOL Harris Sewell, Acworth (Ga.) Kennesaw Mountain three-star IOL Connor Lew, Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman four-star OT Markee Anderson, Mcdonough (Ga.) Eagle’s Landing Christian four-star OT Zechariah Owens, Austin (Texas) Vandegrift four-star OT Ian Reed

In April, Sewell dropped a top-five featuring Clemson along with Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. The Tigers extended a scholarship offer to Sewell on Nov. 1, just a couple of days after he was in attendance as an unofficial visitor for Clemson’s 30-20 win over Florida State. He also visited Clemson last July. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder is ranked as a top-100 national prospect in the 2023 class by both ESPN (No. 65) and the 247Sports Composite (No. 76).

Lew released his final four in late May, including Clemson, Auburn, Georgia and Miami, and announced that he would be taking official visits to all four of those schools in June. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder was a first-team All-State performer last season and lists around two dozen scholarship offers, including offers from schools such as Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

In addition to Clemson, Anderson has also set official visits to North Carolina (June 8-10), LSU (June 17-19) and South Carolina (June 24-26). Those three schools, along with Clemson, comprise the top-four schools list that Anderson released on April 30. The 6-6, 303-pounder has made numerous trips to Tiger Town since receiving an offer from Clemson back in September 2021.

Owens, who was most recently on campus to watch Clemson’s first scrimmage of the spring at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, March 30, indicated to TCI after making visits to Clemson and Florida State this spring that the two schools were No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in his recruitment. Owens, ranked as the nation’s No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 66 overall prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports, received an offer from Clemson while on campus for Clemson’s Elite Visit Day in early March.

Reed has been on Clemson’s campus once before, when he made an unofficial visit in conjunction with the April 9 spring game and picked up an offer from the Tigers. The nation’s No. 22 offensive tackle in the 2023 class per 247Sports, Reed has also set official visits to Wisconsin (June 10-12), Oklahoma State (June 14-16) and Texas (June 24-26), while he will make an unofficial visit to Alabama from June 17-19. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder is planning to make his commitment in mid-August, right before the start of his senior season.

Defensive Linemen 

Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson five-star Peter Woods, Rome (Ga.) four-star Stephiylan Green, Thomaston (Ga.) Upson-Lee four-star T.J. Searcy, Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward Academy four-star A.J. Hoffler, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville four-star Hunter Osborne, Highland Home (Ala.) four-star Keldric Faulk, Columbus (Ga.) Carver four-star Darron Reed 

Woods (6-4, 265) is rated as a five-star prospect by ESPN and the 247Sports Composite. He is ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 9 overall prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN, while the composite rankings tab him as the No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 27 overall prospect in his class. In late March, Woods announced a final-four-schools list featuring Clemson along with Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. Jackson State recently offered Woods, and he is legitimately considering that school as well. The Tigers extended an offer to Woods back on June 1, 2021, and he most recently visited Clemson this past January for the Tigers’ elite junior day. Woods also made a couple of visits to Clemson last season for the Boston College and Florida State games in October.

Green is ranked as high as the No. 7 defensive tackle and No. 188 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals. In late April, he announced a top six comprised of Clemson, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder made an unofficial visit to Clemson in early March. The Tigers have not yet offered.

Searcy (6-5, 250) thoroughly enjoyed his first visit to Clemson’s campus on March 5, when he collected an offer from the Tigers. “It feels amazing to have an offer from Clemson because of how good of a program they are,” he told TCI after the visit. A good run-stopper, who uses his length and size to his advantage, Searcy is the No. 185 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports.

Hoffler (6-5, 245), who also picked up an offer from Clemson during his March 5 visit, returned to Tiger Town last month. While Ohio State was once the leader in the clubhouse, Hoffler indicated to TCI recently that Clemson has since closed that perceived gap going into this weekend’s official visit. “I think Clemson has done a really good job, as far as recruiting me,” Hoffler said. “I would say that they have closed the gap.”

Osborne (6-3, 250) released his final six schools on May 13, including Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Texas, LSU and Tennessee on his shortlist. He likewise visited Clemson on March 5 and came away from the visit blown away by everything Clemson had to offer. The Tigers extended an offer to Osborne, who lists more than four dozen total offers, during the visit.

Faulk received an offer from Clemson in January and then attended the Tigers’ elite junior day later that month. The 6-foot-6, 248-pounder is ranked as high as the No. 5 weakside defensive end and No. 92 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals. His offer list includes Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Tennessee and many others.

Last month, Reed (6-4, 270) released a list of his top schools which included Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and Texas A&M. While Clemson did not appear in his top group, Reed confirmed to TCI that Clemson is still in the running for him, as he said the Tigers were accidentally left off the top-schools graphic.

“It was just an accident we didn’t put them on the edit,” Reed explained. “I talked to Coach about that, and we’re still locked in the 3rd through the 5th for the official.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” he added of the official visit. “I’m very excited for it.”

Reed was also on campus at Clemson earlier this year for the program’s elite junior day Jan. 29.

Edge Rushers 

Washington (D.C.) St. John’s four-star David Ojiegbe (committed) and Austin (Texas) Westlake four-star Colton Vasek 

Following his visit to Clemson for the April 9 spring game, Ojiegbe committed to the Tigers on April 27, choosing them over schools like Maryland, Miami, Michigan and North Carolina.

Ojiegbe — the No. 20 edge defender and No. 167 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per 247Sports — felt very good about Clemson after he visited for the program’s second junior day of the year on March 5, when he received his Clemson offer, and explained to TCI why he chose the Tigers.

“Faith, family and football,” Ojiegbe said, “and the family vibes I’ve already felt them…They’re gonna make me a better man and a better football player. They’re gonna develop me in everything, every aspect of life at the next level, whether that’s going to the league or into the workforce.”

Vasek — a former teammate of Clemson freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik — was on Clemson’s campus on March 14 for an unofficial visit and subsequently left town with a scholarship offer in hand.

“It was absolutely…I loved it up there,” Vasek told TCI. “It impressed me a ton, just seeing the campus, the facilities, meeting all the coaches and seeing what Clemson really had to offer. I really loved my time up there.”

“I would go as far as saying that this is probably my favorite visit I’ve been on out of all the schools I’ve visited so far,” he added.

On Thursday, Vasek released a top five featuring Clemson along with Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech.

The rising senior is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and the 247Sports Composite, the latter of which ranks him as the No. 27 edge rusher and No. 284 overall prospect in the 2023 class.

Linebackers

Fairfax (Va.) four-star LB Tony Rojas, Demark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star LB Dee Crayton, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star LB Jamal Anderson and Tampa (Fla.) Catholic four-star LB Lewis Carter

Rojas earned an offer from Clemson when he first visited for the program’s junior day on March 5 and returned in April for a spring practice visit. In April, he dropped a final four that featured Clemson, Georgia, Penn State and Miami. Rojas (6-3, 200) is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Virginia, No. 12 outside linebacker and No. 210 overall prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals.

Crayton earned an offer from the Tigers back in February and has since maintained that Clemson is a top school in his recruitment. That rang true when he included Clemson in a top schools list that also featured Auburn, Mizzou, Penn State and UCF.

“Definitely, something that comes right to mind is my relationship with Coach Wes (Goodwin),” Crayton told TCI when asked why he included Clemson among his top schools. “He actually came to my practice. He’s always just recruiting me hard. We talk every day — he makes sure he calls me and we chat it up whether it’s for five minutes or 15 — we’re always just talking.

“Just being able to see myself in the defense and my head coach (Mike Palmieri) actually coached Trenton (Simpson),” Crayton continued. “He’s kind of aligned with Clemson in coaching linebackers. (Coach Goodwin) is coaching Trenton now, so that’s pretty cool seeing him develop and that possibly being me.”

Rivals considers Crayton to be the No. 9 linebacker and the nation’s No. 130 overall prospect in the class of 2023.

Anderson (6-4, 200) is the son of former Utah and Atlanta Falcons All-Pro running back Jamal Anderson, Sr. The younger Anderson received an offer from Clemson while on campus on March 12. He is ranked as high as the No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 123 overall prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN.

Clemson offered Carter back in December 2021 when Brent Venables was still the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Carter (6-0, 205) is ranked as high as the No. 116 overall prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports, which considers him the No. 8 linebacker in the country for his class.

Cornerbacks

American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) four-star CB Damari Brown and St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star CB Branden Strozier (committed)

Clemson offered Brown back in January. He dropped his final six schools on Thursday, featuring Clemson, Miami, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida State.

Strozier committed to the Tigers on May 20, choosing Clemson over Alabama and Tennessee.

It all came down to the fact of what school is gonna help bring me the best version of myself, whether it’s on the field or off the field,” Strozier said. “I felt like Clemson was the best fit for me and that I’ll be able to thrive in their program.”

What was it about Clemson’s recruiting pitch that resonated with Strozier the most?

“Really just the coaching stability there,” he said. “You know people say, ‘Don’t go to school because of the coach,’ but you have to choose a school with the right coach that’s going to be able to develop you. And at Clemson, their coaching staff doesn’t change a whole lot. So, being able to have a stable coaching staff is just really great.”

Safeties

Summer High (Riverview, Fla.) three-star ATH Kylen Webb and Crisp County (Cordele, Ga.) three-star S Ahmad Brown

Clemson offered Webb after he made an unofficial visit to campus on March 17. Webb told TCI recently that he is currently enjoying the recruitment process and plans to make a decision before the fall. He made sure to reiterate that Clemson is one of the top schools in his recruitment. In addition to Clemson, Webb mentioned UCF and Florida State as the schools recruiting him the hardest at the moment.

Brown picked up an offer from Clemson back in April. Brown later visited and told us that Clemson is at the top of his standings in his recruitment.

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