Tag: Kobe McCloud

The Newcomer Files: Kobe McCloud

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus. Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus …

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus.

Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus this summer. The Clemson Insider is taking a closer look at each newcomer and the likelihood of him contributing immediately this fall based on development and positional need.

TCI previously highlighted Keith Adams Jr., T.J. Dudley, Sherrod Covil Jr., Robert Gunn III, Kylon Griffin, Cade Klubnik, Jahiem Lawson, Jeadyn Lukus and Johnson. Next up is Kobe McCloud.

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 210 pounds

Ranking: 3 stars (247Sports Composite)

Previous school: Gaither (Florida) High

Early enrollee? No

The skinny: McCloud comes from a football family. He’s following in the footsteps of his brother, San Francisco 49ers receiver Ray Ray McCloud, who played at Clemson from 2015-17. His other brother, Jordan, is a quarterback at Arizona. The youngest McCloud was a two-way player in high school but is the only one of the trio that will line up on the defensive side of the ball in college. He was productive during his prep career at Gaither, finishing as the school’s career leader in tackles (234) and interceptions (13). 

McCloud has the frame, speed and athleticism that could play at multiple positions on the second level of Clemson’s defense, though immediately playing time figures to be hard to come by at the position. Despite losing two starters in James Skalski and Baylon Spector, Clemson still has experience back at and near the top of the linebacker depth chart, including juniors Lavonta Bentley, Keith Maguire and Trenton Simpson, who’s making the move from Sam to Will ‘backer. Barrett Carter and Malcolm Greene are manning the Sam/nickel spot. Cracking the rotation may be tough for McCloud as a true freshman, but he’s got a skill set that could be useful on special teams.

Swinney: Clemson signing McCloud is ‘God’s favor’

When Dabo Swinney thinks about how Clemson ended up signing Kobe McCloud as part of its 2022 recruiting class, all Swinney can do is chalk it up to what he called “God’s favor” shining on his program. The brother of former Clemson and current …

When Dabo Swinney thinks about how Clemson ended up signing Kobe McCloud as part of its 2022 recruiting class, all Swinney can do is chalk it up to what he called “God’s favor” shining on his program.

The brother of former Clemson and current Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, Kobe signed with the Tigers on Wednesday as a linebacker. Former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables loved Kobe when evaluating him in the fall, but the Tigers originally didn’t think they would have a spot for him in their 2022 class.

“I had forgotten about Kobe, because he was a guy that Brent had evaluated early,” Swinney said Wednesday during Clemson’s National Signing Day show. “But we had a kid committed already from Kansas and we had two other guys that we had offered, and we knew we were going to get one of those guys. But Brent’s evaluation, I went back to his evaluation, and Brent’s evaluation was, ‘I love this kid. He is a great player. He’s got high-end potential. He’s a thumper. He’s got range. He’s fast, he’s explosive in his hips, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But probably won’t be able to offer because we’re going to get one of these two. But if not, he would be a guy for us.’ That was kind of the evaluation, and I had forgotten about that.”

That was in November, when Kobe’s father reached out to Swinney, seeking an evaluation from Venables to help determine the direction Kobe – who was a Florida International commitment then – should take in the recruiting process and whether or not he should sign during the December early signing period or wait for more offers to come his way.

Although Venables was very high on Kobe in his evaluation, Swinney moved on, as Clemson’s linebacker board was full at the time. But things changed over time, and the Tigers eventually saw a spot at linebacker open up.

In January, Swinney just so happened to have a text conversation with Kobe’s father after watching one of Ray-Ray’s Steelers games. That’s when he learned that Kobe hadn’t signed with a school in December, and the rest is history.

“All I can say is God’s favor on this. … God’s favor on Kobe McCloud,” Swinney said. “I’m watching the Pittsburgh game, the Steelers game, and I don’t remember who they’re playing now. But Kath (Kathleen Swinney) and I watched the whole game, and Ray-Ray had a huge game. In fact, he had a big fourth-down play and a big return in the game and was really one of the big differences in the win. So the game was over, and I just texted his dad and Ray-Ray, ‘Hey man, it’s awesome. Congratulations. Really proud of ya.’ And boom, all of a sudden, his dad texted me back.

“So this is now January, and I said, ‘Hey, where did Kobe sign?’ Because I just assumed he signed in December. And he said, ‘Well actually, Coach, he didn’t sign because we just had a couple big options come up and we just wanted to make sure we explored that.’”

Swinney didn’t respond to Kobe’s father right away, but instead instantly sent Kobe’s film to new defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Wes Goodwin.

“I didn’t even reply. I just immediately sent everything to Wes, and Wes comes back and he’s like, ‘Coach, this guy can play,’” Swinney recalled. “So, it’s just kind of crazy how things happen in the recruiting world, and next thing you know, we’re signing up Kobe McCloud, who I think is an excellent athlete and just a great addition. … So, just a really, really cool story how that all came about.”

A four-year starter who finished his prep career as the all-time winningest player in Gaither High School (Tampa, Fla.) history (36-12), Kobe posted school records in career tackles (234) and interceptions (13) and was a two-time all-conference and all-county selection. He was credited with 70 tackles and three interceptions as a senior in 2021 while also contributing 158 rushing yards on 25 carries on offense, and he was selected to the Hillsborough County All-Star Game.

Also an academic standout who was an honor student and team captain, Kobe committed to Clemson on Jan. 26 before signing on Wednesday and will enroll this summer.

“I’m excited to welcome Kobe to the Tiger family,” Goodwin said, via Kobe’s official Clemson bio. “He’s a very instinctual and intelligent player. Very versatile, can move him all over the field. He can over, blitz, play in the box, play on the edge. Plays tough, plays fast, plays physical. Not only that, he’s a great young man, comes from a great family. We’re excited to have Kobe come be a part of our program.”

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Transfer portal played a role in Tigers’ 2022 class

Believe it or not, the transfer portal played a part in Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class. Yes, the Tigers only signed one transfer in Hunter Johnson, who Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney referred to as a “boomerang portal guy,” but the pool of high …

Believe it or not, the transfer portal played a part in Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class.

Yes, the Tigers only signed one transfer in Hunter Johnson, who Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney referred to as a “boomerang portal guy,” but the pool of high school players available in the month of February is due to what the transfer portal has become.

Clemson wouldn’t have been able to sign some of its signees yesterday in past years. Prospects like Myles Oliver, Cole Turner, Jahiem Lawson and Kobe McCloud all saw their recruitments directly affected by the portal.

That’s exactly what happened with Oliver, the three-star cornerback out of Douglas County (Villa Rica, Ga.). 

The Clemson Insider has spoken with Oliver’s head coach at Douglas County, Johnny T. White, on multiple occasions. White revealed to us that there were numerous teams who passed on recruiting Oliver — in order to recruit the portal instead — and once his recruitment took off, they tried to circle back around.

During his National Signing Day press conference, Swinney used McCloud’s recruitment as a prime example. After watching Ray-Ray McCloud make some crucial plays in a game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Clemson’s head coach was making conversation with McCloud’s father, Ray, and asked him where Kobe had decided to sign.

As we now know, Kobe had originally committed to Florida International University but opted not to sign during the early signing period because he had a lot of things coming his way and didn’t really know what he wanted to do. 

Kobe took the month of January to figure some things out. That, of course, led to him signing with Clemson on NSD.

“That’s gonna be more and more the story, to be honest with you,” Swinney said Wednesday, “because there’s not many high school kids getting recruited. In fact, a couple of years ago, a lot of these guys that we just signed, they wouldn’t be here to sign.

“It’s good and bad. It’s good that there’s a bigger pool of high school kids to recruit, but it’s bad because you got a lot of high school kids getting the opportunities that they got a couple of years ago and you got a lot of them that are having to go mid-year too, whether they want to or not.”

Swinney acknowledged that Clemson was pretty fortunate to have the finish to the 2022 recruiting class that it did.

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TCI’s National Signing Day preview: Breaking down commits, targets

The countdown to National Signing Day continues. With Wednesday’s NSD fast approaching, The Clemson Insider wanted to provide a primer to get you ready for the big day as it relates to the Tigers. In the following preview, we break down the …

The countdown to National Signing Day continues. With Wednesday’s NSD fast approaching, The Clemson Insider wanted to provide a primer to get you ready for the big day as it relates to the Tigers.

In the following preview, we break down the commitments that Clemson is set to sign on Wednesday, the targets that the Tigers are in the mix for, and more:

Cole Turner

Vestavia Hills (Ala.) High School wide receiver Cole Turner announced his commitment to the Tigers after his official visit on Sunday, Jan. 16.

Cole, of course, is the younger brother of longtime Clemson safety Nolan Turner. Like his brother before for him, Cole was severely under-recruited coming out of high school.

The Clemson Insider spoke with Vestavia Hills head coach Sean Calhoun, prior to Cole’s offer from Clemson.

“He’s one of those stereotypical guys, who didn’t have much junior film and has a lot of senior film,” Calhoun said. “And, it’s really good and it’s vs. really, really good opponents. He’s a good player.

“Again, he’s just not on recruiting boards because if his senior film was his junior film, he’d be a three/four-star. But, he’s not and I think that the people that do see it and do get on him at this time, whoever gets him is definitely gonna get an absolute diamond in the rough. There’s no doubt about it.”

Myles Oliver

Oliver (6-0, 170) officially verbally pledged to the Tigers on Sunday, Jan. 16. The Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.) 2022 defensive back, like Turner before him, committed to Clemson after his official visit.

When asked by The Clemson Insider why he pulled the trigger on his commitment to Clemson, Oliver pointed to the coaching staff and the “great campus.”

Across his senior campaign, Oliver recorded five interceptions, 75 total tackles (55 solos), four touchdowns, 101 interception yards and 552 all-purpose yards. He received Douglas County Player of the Year honors for his contributions on the field this season.

Oliver’s head coach at Douglas County, Johnny T. White, talked to TCI in December and spoke about why he believed Clemson would ultimately be a good fit for the under-the-radar defensive back.

“Clemson would be a great place because it’s close to home for him,” White said. “Family’s big to him, so that’s not far. But, at the same time, I think it would be beneficial on both sides. I think he’d end up being a great player for Clemson. I know he’d be a standout guy because he’s a great young man. He’s a better young man than he is a football player, to be honest.”

Kobe McCloud

Kobe McCloud announced his verbal commitment to Clemson Wednesday, Jan. 26, just a mere couple of days after the legacy recruit, who hails from Gaither (Tampa, Fla.), officially visited campus.

McCloud went into detail with The Clemson Insider about his decision to commit to Clemson.

“Really just the love from the coaches,” McCloud said. “Not just the coaches, but their whole staff. I love that vision that they have for me for the next 3-4 years, so that played a big role.”

In a previous conversation with TCI, McCloud outlined his potential role. Clemson feels like he can play anywhere on that second-level, whether it’s at the WILL or MIKE linebacker positions. According to McCloud, Swinney had previously told him that his playstyle reminds him of former Clemson linebackers like B.J. Goodson and Dorian O’Daniel, both of whom went on to play in the NFL.

What can Clemson fans expect out of McCloud?

“I’m a baller on the field and off the field, I’m a great person with good character,” he said. “A person that lights up the room when I walk in. That’s the type of person I am.”

Kylon Griffin

Montgomery Catholic (Ala.) three-star defensive back Kylon Griffin elected to commit to Clemson on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Even though the fast-rising prospect, who was once committed to Mississippi State, had another official visit on the table, his mind was already made up.

“I think there was no more to be said,” Griffin said. “Clemson has it all and more. I think Dabo Swinney has a great culture up there, that continues to evolve and that the whole staff wants the same thing.”

What role does the coaching staff envision for him?

“They compared me to K’Von Wallace,” Griffin said. “He was all-around the backend when he was there. I’m pretty sure they plan to use me all-around.”

Jahiem Lawson

Jahiem Lawson from nearby Daniel High School publicly committed to the Tigers on Friday, Jan. 28.

Lawson – the younger brother of former Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson, who played for the Tigers from 2013-15 and has spent time in the NFL with the Bills, Dolphins, Texans and Jets – detailed his commitment decision in an interview with The Clemson Insider.

Jahiem (6-4, 215), who received an offer from Dabo Swinney and Clemson on Dec. 20, said he knew for sure a couple of weeks ago that Clemson is where he wanted to continue his academic and athletic career. He told Swinney and his staff that he wanted to be a Tiger while on his official visit to Clemson three weekends ago.

Jahiem chose the Tigers over offers from Missouri, Georgia Tech, Coastal Carolina and Liberty, among numerous other schools.

“The environment is really amazing,” Jahiem said of why he picked Clemson. “Being around the coaches, it’s like a family, and I love that. Going in on my OV (official visit), I just felt so welcomed. That was so exciting for me. So, that made my chances to go to Clemson higher.”

PWOs

Here is a list of all the preferred walk-ons that plan on signing with Clemson on Wednesday:

  • Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville, S.C.) three-star offensive tackle Mason Johnstone
  • Laurens (S.C.) athlete Michael Mankaka
  • T.L. Hanna (Anderson, S.C.) linebacker Fletcher Cothran
  • Anderson (S.C.) T.L. Hanna offensive lineman Chap Pendergrass
  • Daniel (Central, S.C.) tight end Griffin Batt
  • Daniel (Central, S.C) wide receiver Clay Swinney
  • Daniel (Central, S.C.) quarterback Trent Pearman
  • Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) quarterback Caleb Nix

Commitment Watch

By now, we know that there are four uncommitted prospects in the 2022 recruiting class that could commit to Clemson on Wednesday.

The Tigers played host this past weekend to a couple of official visitors, so we wanted to pass along the latest we have gathered regarding those official visitors, as well as the other Clemson targets.

T.J. Dudley

One of the uncommitted prospects that Clemson is in strong contention for is T.J. Dudley, a four-star linebacker from Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic Preparatory School who is ranked as the No. 11 outside linebacker and No. 143 overall prospect in the 2022 class by Rivals.

Dudley, a former Oregon commit, decommitted from the Ducks in early December after former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal departed for Miami. It was around that time when Clemson, which offered Dudley back in June 2020, re-entered the mix for his services.

Clemson made a big impression on Dudley when he visited for a junior day back in the spring of 2020, and he returned to campus for an official visit last weekend – a visit that simply reinforced the things he liked about Clemson back then and only strengthened the Tigers’ standing heading into signing day.

Dudley is teammates with Montgomery Catholic Prep 2022 defensive back Kylon Griffin, who committed to the Tigers last week, and Clemson appears to be the clear frontrunner for Dudley as well. New co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Wes Goodwin has done a good job with Dudley’s recruitment.

Dudley will announce his decision at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Caden Story

We also like where Clemson stands with Caden Story, a four-star defensive tackle from Lanett (Ala.) High School, who is ranked as the No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 147 overall prospect in the 2022 class by 247Sports.

Clemson is one of three stated finalists for Story, along with Florida and Auburn. He committed to the SEC’s Tigers last August but did not end up signing in December, then decommitted from Auburn on Jan. 16. He went to Florida for an official visit this past weekend.

The Tigers made a great impression on Story during his official visit two weekends ago. He has a strong and longstanding relationship with Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator, Nick Eason, who also recruited Story when Eason was at Auburn.

While the Gators gave Story something to think about last weekend, we still believe the Tigers are in a good spot heading into Wednesday.

Story will reveal his college choice at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Keith Adams, Jr.

The other official visitor on campus this weekend was Pine View (Saint George, Utah) 2022 three-star running back Keith Adams, Jr.

“I just liked how everybody treated me,” Adams told The Clemson Insider Sunday. “I just enjoyed spending time with the coaches and the players. I had a lot of fun and the facilities were great.”

Clemson originally offered Adams as a grayshirt back when he was a junior in October 2020, but on Saturday, the Tigers offered him a full ride. According to Adams, Clemson loved his film and they saw him progress throughout the entirety of his high school career, which is why they offered him a full scholarship.

“It meant a lot,” he said, “to actually get it in person, it felt a lot different than receiving it over the phone. It was a special moment for me and my family.”

Adams, of course, is the son of former Clemson All-American linebacker Keith Adams Sr., who went on to play seven years in the NFL and played in the 2005 Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Clemson made a big impression on Adams Jr. and his family this weekend, and while he won’t make his decision known until Wednesday, we like the Tigers’ chances heading into signing day.

Adams will reveal his college choice at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Andrew Paul

Heading into this past weekend, those close to Andrew Paul’s recruitment viewed Clemson as the frontrunner for the Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, Texas) three-star running back. However, Georgia has given him something to think about after his official visit to Athens this past weekend.

As far as his recruitment is concerned, Paul is very closed vest. So much so, that many of those around him are unsure of what he may decide. That being said, while we believe Georgia and Kirby Smart made a big push to land Paul’s commitment, we feel the Tigers still have a legitimate shot to land his signature on Wednesday.

Clemson has certainly put its best foot forward with Paul as well.

“He loved it,” Parish head coach Daniel Novakov said of Paul’s official visit. “He loved the place. He loved the people. He loved Coach Swinney. I think he really liked the kids he visited. I think he liked everything about it.”

The Tigers have been recruiting Paul hard since C.J. Spiller was in attendance for Paul’s state playoff game last month. Clemson’s running backs coach stayed for the entire game. That went a long way with Paul and his trainer Brandon Williams, who trains the three-star running back at FASST Performance & Fitness and has done so for the past three and a half years.

“That showed me not just the value, but the perception that I got from C.J. standing there the entire time just tells me where their relationship is with Andrew,” Williams said. ‘“Hey, this young man is what we want. It’s been amazing to see all those things, especially the respect level.”

Paul has built a close relationship with Spiller. He’ll have a tough decision to make between Clemson, Georgia and Michigan.

Paul will announce his decision at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday.

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Brother of former Tiger commits to Clemson, details decision with TCI

Clemson has landed a new verbal commitment from a talented Sunshine State defender, who is the younger brother of a former Tiger and current NFL player. Kobe McCloud announced his verbal commitment to Clemson Wednesday, just a mere couple of days …

Clemson has landed a new verbal commitment from a talented Sunshine State defender, who is the younger brother of a former Tiger and current NFL player.

Kobe McCloud announced his verbal commitment to Clemson Wednesday, just a mere couple of days after the legacy recruit, who hails from Gaither (Tampa, Fla.), officially visited campus.

With his verbal pledge, McCloud (6-1, 210) becomes the second official visitor from this past weekend to commit to Clemson. Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic three-star defensive back Kylon Griffin verbally committed to the Tigers on Tuesday morning.

McCloud went into detail with The Clemson Insider about his decision to commit to Clemson.

“Really just the love from the coaches,” McCloud said. “Not just the coaches, but their whole staff. I love that vision that they have for me for the next 3-4 years, so that played a big role.”

In a previous conversation with TCI, McCloud outlined his potential role. Clemson feels like he can play anywhere on that second-level, whether it’s at the WILL or MIKE linebacker positions. According to McCloud, Swinney had previously told him that his playstyle reminds him of former Clemson linebackers like B.J. Goodson and Dorian O’Daniel, both of which went on to play in the NFL.

What can Clemson fans expect out of McCloud?

“I’m a baller on the field and off the field, I’m a great person with good character,” he said. “A person that lights up the room when I walk in. That’s the type of person I am.”

While Clemson sat well with McCloud, even prior to this past weekend’s official visit, he was still in contact with both UMass and Arizona. When he arrived back in Tampa, McCloud realized that Clemson was where he wanted to be.

“I felt that I would be there and not be homesick,” he said of Clemson. “Like a home away from home.”

Even though he’s seemingly already comfortable at Clemson, McCloud will have a familiar face in a fellow linebacker signee, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) three-star Wade Woodaz. The two played on the same 7-on-7 teams and even went on college tours with one another.

“That’s my boy,” McCloud said of Woodaz. “We’re very excited. We’ve already talked about it.”

McCloud is relieved to have made a decision and excited about his new chapter. That sentiment seemed to be echoed by Clemson’s coaching staff and his older brother, Ray-Ray McCloud when he informed those close to the situation of his decision.

“They were pumped up,” Kobe said. “That was a great moment. They are fired up.” 

Clemson defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Wes Goodwin, who served as McCloud’s recruiter, will, of course, will be making some tweaks to the Tigers’ defensive playbook.

Obviously, it’s imperative that when Kobe arrives on campus, he spends an innate amount of time getting familiar with the nuances and terminology of Clemson’s defensive playbook. Because of his versatility, Kobe suggests that once he arrives on campus, he’ll play whatever position Clemson needs him to play. First and foremost, he’s a team player, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field.

All in all, he’s excited about the class of 2022, which he officially joined Wednesday.

“I think Clemson did a great job recruiting and also with some of the guys they still want like Caden (Story) and Andrew (Paul),” he said. “Those are some good guys, not just on the field, but off the field. They got good personalities. I think the coaches did a good job recruiting.”

Now that he’s committed to Clemson, what would Kobe tell prospective recruits like Story and Paul, who are considering coming to the Tigers?

“It’s a home away from home,” Kobe said. “The coaches, they’re gonna take care of you like you’re their sons. All the coaches on staff have been there for a very long time. They’re the only school in the nation that I see not having much coaching change, except for Coach (Venables), which was like 10 years later. The person that recruits you, that’s the person you’re gonna get.

“Their whole village of Clemson is all about love and stuff. Obviously, on the field, they’re gonna help you. They’re known for that. They put people in the league. You can’t go wrong.”

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Official visit gets McCloud closer to Clemson commitment

Clemson hosted a quartet of official visitors from the 2022 recruiting class this weekend, including a legacy recruit in Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud. McCloud caught up with The Clemson Insider Sunday night and gave the …

Clemson hosted a quartet of official visitors from the 2022 recruiting class this weekend, including a legacy recruit in Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud.

McCloud caught up with The Clemson Insider Sunday night and gave the latest on his recruitment after making his final official visit before he eventually makes a decision.

“It was great,” McCloud said. “I had an amazing time. Words can’t explain. It was just a great time.”

What was the highlight of the official visit for McCloud?

“First, I think the one thing that stood out to me the most was the relationship that they have and how long their coaches have been on staff,” he said. “They’re such a big family, it’s like a great village they built. That’s the difference between them and some of the bigger schools, they don’t have a lot of coaching movement. A lot of coaches that are there are like there for 10-plus years. So, that’s great.

“I spoke with some of the players and they said the coaches show love, like love is their No. 1 thing. Love will come before football. They’ll treat you like your son. I love that, so that stood out to me.”

McCloud is thinking about making a decision soon and wrapping up his recruitment. Prior to this weekend’s official visit, he decommitted from FIU and told TCI that he narrowed his recruitment down to three schools: Clemson, UMass and Arizona

He indicated that this visit got him closer to a commitment and he’ll likely make a decision on his new home sometime this week.

The messaging he heard from the coaching staff was consistent with what McCloud heard during his in-home visit with Dabo Swinney, Wes Goodwin and Brandon Streeter, earlier this week.

“They love me,” he said. “They love how I play on the field. When I got there, they kind of sat me down and walked me through their playbook and stuff. So, that was great. They showed me how they’d utilize me in their defense. Their vision for me was great, so that’s what I loved about it.”

During his visit, McCloud was hosted by Clemson freshman linebacker Jermiah Trotter, Jr. He also spent time with another freshman linebacker in Barrett Carter.

“He loves Clemson,” McCloud said of Trotter. “He loves the philosophies the coaches have. He loves the atmosphere and the relationships he has with the coaches. I was with Barrett Carter too and they kind of said the same thing, ‘These coaches aren’t going nowhere.’ and I want to play with the coaches that recruited me, so I liked that.”

That’s not the only current or former Clemson player that McCloud got to spend time with on his visit. As we previously reported, McCloud’s older brother, Ray-Ray McCloud III, accompanied his family for the official visit.

Ray-Ray had to leave and couldn’t stay around for the festivities on Sunday. That didn’t stop him from being there, though, as he went live on Instagram with his younger brother. 

He also spent time with some of his former teammates, who are now on staff, and gave Kobe some words of wisdom and something to think about.

“It was great,” Kobe said. “He showed me the ins-and-outs and stuff. I was just observing the relationship he had with the coaches years later and it was great. They sat me down and gave me a presentation and they keep up with all their players. All their players love to come back and give back.

“Ray was just showing me that this is the place you want to be and I could see where he’s coming from.”

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Big official visit weekend on tap for Clemson

Clemson is getting ready for a big recruiting weekend, as the Tigers will play host to a quartet of official visitors this weekend. The four official visitors that have confirmed that they will be in attendance are all uncommitted prospects in the …

Clemson is getting ready for a big recruiting weekend, as the Tigers will play host to a quartet of official visitors this weekend.

The four official visitors that have confirmed that they will be in attendance are all uncommitted prospects in the class of 2022, looking to find their next home, prior to next month’s National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The official visitors that are expected to be on campus this weekend are — Lanett (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Caden Story, Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud, Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, TX.) three-star running back Andrew Paul and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory (Montgomery, Ala.) three-star defensive back Kylon Griffin.

Caden Story

Starting off with Story, he formally decommitted from Auburn this weekend and has since re-opened his recruitment. The highly-touted defensive lineman out of the Yellowhammer State previously committed to Auburn on Aug. 1, 2021, and Nick Eason played a significant part in his decision to originally commit to Bryan Harsin’s program.

Story saw Eason as someone who could develop and take his game to the next level.

Clemson’s defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator stayed in contact with Story and never stopped recruiting him, even after departing Auburn to join Dabo Swinney’s staff and return home to Clemson.

Eason stopped by Story’s high school last Friday and made an in-home visit with him and his parents just a couple of days later. He even made sure to bring his guitar with him.

“Coach Eason, that’s my guy,” Story said. “He’s a real dude. We have a really close relationship. I feel like he’s one of the best in the country. I feel like he is the best in the country. Me and Coach Eason, we’re tight. We’re close. That’s my dude. That’s my guy.”

When Eason originally recruited Story to Auburn, what was he looking for him to come in and do?

“Just developing and becoming a better player than I was before I got there,” Story added. “Become a better man than when I got there. He showed me a plan of the way they wanted to use me at Auburn and hopefully, [this weekend], he’ll do the same.”

Story is down to three schools: Clemson, Florida and Auburn. He’ll be making an official visit to Gainesville next weekend and then make his decision in Lanett High School’s gymnasium shortly thereafter.

Kobe McCloud

Like Story, ahead of his official visit to Clemson this weekend, McCloud ultimately decided to back off his commitment from FIU. He indicated that the coaching changes played a part in his decision to decommit and reopen his recruitment and weigh his options.

The legacy recruit recently spoke to The Clemson Insider prior to his official visit about what he’s looking forward to this weekend.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to see it. I haven’t been there since 2017 or around there, since my brother was there. So, it’s great to see it there, years later.”

Kobe, of course, is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Ray-Ray McCloud III. Now that Ray-Ray’s season is over, he plans on meeting his family at Clemson and will be present for Kobe’s official visit.

Right now, Kobe is pushing to wait until signing day. But if he likes how the official visit goes this weekend, there is a possibility that he could make a decision before then.

His recruitment is also now down to three schools: Clemson, UMass and Arizona.

Andrew Paul

Possibly the biggest name on campus this weekend will be Paul, who has been one of the fastest rising prospects in the country since his tremendous senior campaign. In 13 games, he recorded 2,824 all-purpose yards with 44 total touchdowns. He also averaged an impressive 9.7 yards per carry and 201.2 yards per game.

Clemson officially extended a scholarship offer to Paul on Thursday, Jan. 6.

“I think Clemson is one of those premier programs,” Parish head coach Daniel Novakov said after Clemson officially offered Paul. “Anytime you get an offer from a place like that, I think it kind of legitimizes you as a star amongst stars. I think it’s one of those top-notch programs that all kids aspire to be recruited by.”

Paul was visited by both Clemson running back coach C.J. Spiller and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, who stopped by his training session with Brandon Williams on Wednesday.

Williams, who trains the three-star running back at FASST Performance & Fitness and has done so for the past three and a half years. He’s worked every step of the way with the Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, TX.) product.

Spiller and Streeter chatted with Paul a little bit before his training session Thursday. They didn’t want to interrupt but just were there to observe the running back prospect, who has become a priority for Clemson in the 2022 recruiting class.

Williams spoke with TCI ahead of Paul’s visit to Clemson this weekend.

“Oh man, he’s excited,” Williams said. “He can’t wait to go talk to them again and really get to see Dabo Swinney. Dabo’s gonna be Dabo and I told him, everything you listen to, listen in and ask a lot of questions and get to know him. We do walk by our faith. That’s who we are. That’s something he’s believed in since Day 1 when I first met him and Dabo’s lined up with that.”

Paul is coming off an official visit to the University of Michigan the weekend prior and previously visited the University of Colorado as well. He has one remaining official visit remaining and he could choose to visit either Notre Dame or Oregon prior to signing day, but nothing’s set in stone just yet.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, this weekend will be big for Paul and Clemson’s pursuit of him. Shortly thereafter, Swinney is tentatively scheduled to visit make an in-home visit with Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Kylon Griffin

Last, but certainly not least, is Griffin, the three-star defensive back out of Montgomery Catholic Prep.

Griffin, who was recently offered by Clemson, included the Tigers, along with Nebraska and Southern Cal, as his top and final three schools.

Griffin (6-0, 187) is a former Mississippi State commit. He officially visited Nebraska last weekend, will visit Clemson this weekend and will finish off his visits with Southern Cal next weekend.

According to MaxPreps, Griffin recorded 44 total tackles (five for loss), six passes defended and a caused fumble as a senior this past season.

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Legacy recruit gives the latest ahead of official visit

Dabo Swinney and two assistants stopped by the home of a legacy recruit on Wednesday night. Clemson made an in-home visit with Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) 2022 three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud, ahead of his official visit to Death Valley this weekend. …

Dabo Swinney and two assistants stopped by the home of a legacy recruit on Wednesday night.

Clemson made an in-home visit with Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) 2022 three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud, ahead of his official visit to Death Valley this weekend.

“It was great,” McCloud told The Clemson Insider. “They showed a lot of love. Coach Swinney came, Coach Wesley and Coach (Brandon) Streeter, came as well. Mom made us some food. We had a great time, just talking about future plans.”

McCloud talked about his relationship with Clemson defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Wesley Goodwin. Their bond continues to strengthen each and every day.

“It’s been a great relationship,” McCloud said of Goodwin. “Me and him have been talking every day, he’ll check up on me and stuff. That’s great to have with a coach. Coach Swinney, that’s my man.

What was Clemson’s message to McCloud?

“They want me and I felt the love, that was great,” he said. “They were telling me ways that they could utilize me, so that was great to know. They like me as a Will-backer, Mike. They feel like I can play anywhere on that second-level as a linebacker. They gave me the basics of their defense, which I liked a lot.”

Kobe, of course, is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Ray-Ray McCloud III. Now that Ray-Ray’s season is over, he plans on meeting his family at Clemson and will be present for Kobe’s official visit.

“I’m super excited,” Kobe said. “I can’t wait to see it. I haven’t been there since 2017 or around there, since my brother was there. So, it’s great to see it there, years later.”

Recently, Kobe ultimately decided to back off his commitment from FIU. He indicated that the coaching changes played a part in his decision to decommit and reopen his recruitment and weigh his options.

His recruitment is now down to three schools: Clemson, UMass and Arizona.

Right now, Kobe is pushing to wait until signing day. But if he likes how the official visit goes this weekend, there is a possibility that he could make a decision before Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Legacy recruit sets offical visit, talks ‘amazing’ Clemson offer

Kobe McCloud had been working out when Clemson called to offer him a scholarship. The three-star linebacker out of Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) didn’t check his phone until he had gotten home. He spoke with his father and his brother, Ray-Ray McCloud III, …

Kobe McCloud had been working out when Clemson called to offer him a scholarship.

The three-star linebacker out of Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) didn’t check his phone until he had gotten home. He spoke with his father and his brother, Ray-Ray McCloud III, and shortly thereafter announced an offer from the Tigers on social media.

“Me, Coach Dabo and my dad, we’ve been talking for a little bit now,” McCloud told The Clemson Insider in a phone interview Monday. “Crazy thing is — this is how it happened to be honest — he was watching my brother last night and he called my dad. He asked my dad if I signed yet and I hadn’t. I still have a couple offers on the table and I was deciding, so they offered me.”

Kobe’s reaction?

“It was amazing, to be honest,” he said. “I know a lot about Clemson. My brother played there, I used to go up there a lot, so I kind of know the ins-and-outs of the culture and the environment.”

Speaking of his brother, Kobe sat down with him for an hour on Sunday night. Fresh off helping his Pittsburgh Steelers secure a spot in the playoffs, Ray-Ray was telling his younger brother about everything Clemson has to offer.

“He had nothing negative to say about Clemson’s coach, Coach Dabo,” Kobe said. “That was the point I liked and looked into. He said that he’s gonna teach you how to practice and play your best. He’s gonna bring the best out of you and that’s what I want, somebody who can bring the best out of me and get me to the next level. Every kid’s dream is to go to the NFL and I feel like with my brother and my environment, I have the blueprints to do it.”

While Kobe remains committed to Florida International, he’s keeping all his options on the table after the program underwent a coaching change. FIU hired Mike MacIntyre as its next head coach on Dec. 9, which left Kobe little time to make a decision if he were to sign early. He ultimately decided to wait to make a decision, which allowed for an offer from Clemson to come in on Sunday.

Kobe took an official visit to the University of Arizona about a month ago. His older brother, Jordan, plays quarterback for the Wildcats. Kobe also has an official visit set up to UMass later this month and of course, Clemson.

He’ll officially be visiting Clemson from Jan. 21-23, which is next weekend. His entire family will be coming along for the visit and if Ray-Ray’s playoff schedule with the Steelers permits it, he’ll probably make a return trip to Tiger Town as well.

“I’m very excited, super excited,” he said. “I can’t wait. I’ve been there so many times since my brother was there. I already know it’s a home. My brother loves it.”

In addition to Swinney and his brother, Kobe had a chance to speak with Clemson defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Wes Goodwin Sunday.

“Me and him had a good conversation yesterday, Coach Wesley,” he said. “He seems like an honest, respectful coach. He’s not that old. He’s a young coach. I’m excited to see the opportunity that they have to offer.”

According to Kobe, Swinney had told him a long time ago that he kind of reminds him of former Clemson linebackers like B.J. Goodson and Dorian O’Daniel, both of which went on to play at the next level.

Clemson is offering Kobe as a WILL backer. He plays inside and outside backer for Gaither.

“I’m good in space,” he said. “I’m not one of those 260-pound linebackers that’s just stuck in the middle, I can move around. I can cover very well, sideline-to-sideline is my strength. I practice that. I try to master just side-to-side, just being agile.”

How would Kobe describe himself as a player to someone who hasn’t seen him play before?

“I feel like I’m a Swiss Army knife,” he added. “My sophomore and junior year of high school, I played safety a lot. I feel like most linebackers aren’t able to play safety. My IQ, I feel like every time I step on the field, I’m gonna know everything.”

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Brother of former Tiger, current NFL player receives Clemson offer

Clemson has handed out a new offer in the class of 2022. Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud announced an offer from Clemson via social media Sunday evening. Kobe, of course, is the younger brother of former Clemson and current …

Clemson has handed out a new offer in the class of 2022.

Gaither (Tampa, Fla.) three-star linebacker Kobe McCloud announced an offer from Clemson via social media Sunday evening.

Kobe, of course, is the younger brother of former Clemson and current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Ray-Ray McCloud.

The inside linebacker has been committed to Florida International since Aug. 6, 2021. He is a hard commit and did not sign with FIU during the Early Signing Period. An offer from Clemson could certainly change his future plans.

Kobe also holds offers from Power 5 programs like Boston College, Indiana, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina and the University of Miami.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!