Tag: Jordan Knox

Clemson’s new offensive line coach checked in this week on a standout in-state offensive lineman in the 2023 class.

Thomas Austin paid a visit on Monday to Northwestern High School (Rock Hill, S.C.), home to 6-foot-4, 305-pound junior tackle Jordan Knox.

“Means a lot,” Knox said to The Clemson Insider of Austin stopping by his school. “For a coach from a school like Clemson to come by and watch me lift and talk to my coach means a lot to me.”

While Austin wasn’t allowed to communicate with Knox at the school, due to NCAA rules, the two have been keeping in contact from time to time and are building a solid relationship.

“He couldn’t talk to me while he was there, but he continues to encourage me to keep grinding,” Knox said.

When Knox was at Clemson as an unofficial visitor for the Wake Forest game this past November, Austin expressed the Tigers’ intent to take a closer look at him this spring, and they’ve been staying in touch.

“We talk here and there,” Knox said. “He makes sure to check in on me every once in a while, and I hope that once spring evaluations come, our relationship will grow even more.”

Knox is confident Austin will do more than fine as the replacement for Robbie Caldwell, who of course has retired from his longtime role as Clemson’s offensive line coach, transitioning into an off-field role with the program as a director of high school relations.

“I think that Coach Caldwell was absolutely amazing. His knowledge of the game and OL play is something special. He definitely knew what he was doing and was great for the program,” Knox said.

“I believe that Coach Austin will step into this role nicely and be very well liked all around the Clemson program. He is a very cool guy, and he can definitely relate to the recruits and knows what it’s like being in this process we all are in.”

Knox hopes to return to Clemson for another visit sometime this spring or summer. Former Clemson offensive coordinator and new Virginia head coach Tony Elliott and the Cavaliers are scheduled to host Knox for their junior day this Saturday.

Northwestern and Liberty offered Knox this past weekend, joining South Florida, Charlotte and Eastern Michigan on his offer list. Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, Florida State, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina, App State, Miami (Ohio) and East Carolina are among others showing interest.

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Clemson’s newly minted offensive line coach is building a solid relationship with this standout in-state prospect.

Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern 2023 offensive tackle Jordan Knox has gotten to know Thomas Austin pretty well over time and feels Austin will do well as the replacement for longtime Tigers offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell.

“He’s a real cool guy,” Knox said to The Clemson Insider. “I feel like he’s real laid-back. He’s not too stressed about everything, and he’s just cool. He’s honest, and I feel like he’s going to do a great job as O-line coach. I think he fits the role well and he’ll be a good replacement for Coach Caldwell. So, I think it’s going to work out really well for Clemson.”

Knox keeps in periodic contact with Austin and has been on Austin’s radar for quite some time. They spoke again recently after Austin was promoted from offensive analyst to O-line coach, with Caldwell transitioning into an off-field role with the program as a director of high school relations.

“I talked to Coach Austin a few days ago about the promotion he got and stuff like that,” Knox said, “and he was wishing me happy holidays and stuff like that.”

A 6-foot-4, 300-pound junior, Knox holds offers from South Florida, Charlotte and Eastern Michigan, while he has garnered interest from schools such as Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State, along with Clemson.

When Knox was at Clemson as an unofficial visitor for the Wake Forest game in November, Austin expressed the Tigers’ intent to take a closer look at him this spring.

“They really like me,” Knox said. “They want to re-evaluate me in the spring. That’s pretty much what he said when I was at the Wake Forest game.”

“Our relationship is pretty good,” he added of Austin. “We both know each other pretty well. So, hopefully things will pick up real good soon here.”

Knox has camped at Clemson since he was in the seventh grade and plans to participate in the Dabo Swinney Camp again this summer.

“It’s real fun,” he said of Swinney’s football camps. “As a kid, you go and look forward to Swinney Ball and stuff like that. But as you get older, you actually start getting interested to learn stuff and get better as you go there. So, that’s really one thing that you can do when you get there – you get better, get to compete a little bit more in one-on-ones.”

Knox doesn’t currently have a timeline for his commitment decision, as he waits to see what other college offers come his way.

Clemson is undoubtedly the “dream offer” for Knox.

“It would mean a lot,” he said. “To get that offer has been a dream of mine for a long time. I feel like I’ve been working real hard to get offers from schools such as Clemson. So, it really would mean a lot to me.”

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A longtime Dabo Swinney Football Camper came back to Clemson recently, but this time, it was for his first game-day visit.

Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern junior offensive lineman Jordan Knox – a regular participant in the Swinney Camps since he was in the seventh grade – attended the Tigers’ 48-27 victory over then-No. 10 Wake Forest on Nov. 20.

“It was amazing!” Knox said of the visit. “I actually was invited a few weeks ago to the FSU game (on Oct. 30) but I already had plans that weekend with another school. But yes, Clemson is just how I thought and expected it to be. First-class people, first-class staff. It was just awesome to be there for it.”

Knox (6-4, 300) also made game-day visits to Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Charlotte this season.

The class of 2023 prospect traveled to Clemson for the Wake Forest game with his father and a friend.

“My friend actually is a big-time Clemson fan along with us, so he just wanted to experience what it was like as a recruit, and my dad absolutely loved it,” Knox said. “I think we have been to like five or six schools this year and those schools were great, but he said Clemson has the edge right now.”

Knox said the highlight of the day for him was the love he was shown upon his arrival to campus by Clemson’s staff, including offensive analyst Thomas Austin.

“The little things like that just show you why Clemson is so special and why they are where they are right now,” Knox said. “Also the way they treat every recruit and their guest(s) is great. Coach Swinney always says ‘everyone can’t play at Clemson,’ but the lessons learned and the way they treat everyone the same is truly special.”

Knox spoke before and after the game with Austin, who let Knox know that the Tigers plan to take a closer look at him this spring.

“He said they will definitely be doing some evaluations in the spring on me,” Knox said.

South Florida, Charlotte and Eastern Michigan have offered Knox, who is also garnering interest from South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Miami (Ohio).

Clemson undoubtedly represents the dream offer for the standout in-state recruit.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 6 and it’s 100 percent my dream offer,” Knox said. “Being a Tiger would mean it all to me, and it’s really what I have been working towards for a long time. But I am thankful to have the offers I have, and I am trusting God to put me in the place he wants me to be in and not what I want.”

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