Alabama DB, family loved first Clemson visit

A talented defensive back prospect from Alabama visited Clemson for the first time on Saturday and came away from the visit very impressed. Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) 2023 cornerback Quintavious Billingsley was among the recruits on …

A talented defensive back prospect from Alabama visited Clemson for the first time on Saturday and came away from the visit very impressed.

Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) 2023 cornerback Quintavious Billingsley was among the recruits on campus for the Tigers’ “spring elite day” — their second junior day of the year.

“For my first visit it was great,” he told The Clemson Insider. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Billingsley was accompanied on the trip to Tiger Town by his mom, dad and brother.

“They definitely enjoyed themselves,” he said. “I could tell from all the smiles.”

Billingsley pointed to Clemson’s coaching staff when asked what stood out most to him about the visit experience.

“The coaches really showed that if you come here, they will take care of you,” he said.

Billingsley spent time with multiple members of the Tigers’ staff, all of whom conveyed a similar message to the 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior.

“There was a number of different coaches that spoke with me, and they all gave the same message, just was told differently,” he said. “But the message was basically saying that if you come to Clemson you are going to be a family and if you come there, you won’t regret it.”

Leading up to Saturday’s visit, Billingsley had been staying in contact with Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed, who told Billingsley that he likes his size and sees “untapped potential” in him.

Based on his conversations with Reed and other coaches on Saturday, did Billingsley gain a better understanding of where he stands with the Tigers at this point in the recruiting process?

“Definitely the visit gave me a better feel for where I am,” he said. “Coach Reed was talking to me and he said, ‘It’s coming,’ so hopefully I get some good news soon.”

Billingsley, who received his first offer from Akron in late February, is keeping his fingers crossed for a future offer from the Tigers.

“It would mean a lot,” he said, “and just from one visit, Clemson would be one of those top schools for me.”

Billingsley hails from Central High, the same school that produced Clemson rising junior receiver E.J. Williams, former Clemson wideout Justyn Ross and former Tiger safety Ray Thornton, who transferred to South Florida this offseason. Billingsley and Williams grew up playing basketball together.

Last year for the Red Devils, Billingsley finished his junior campaign with 24 tackles, including 14 solo tackles and three for loss, to go with a couple of interceptions. He allowed only one touchdown all season.

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Top talent flocking to Tiger Town for Clemson’s ‘spring elite day’

Clemson is set to host a slew of top prospects today for its second junior day of the year, which the Tigers are dubbing their “spring elite day” for recruits in the class of 2023. Among the headliners expected to be in attendance is Central (Phenix …

Clemson is set to host a slew of top prospects today for its second junior day of the year, which the Tigers are dubbing their “spring elite day” for recruits in the class of 2023.

Among the headliners expected to be in attendance is Central (Phenix City, Ala.) five-star A.J. Harris, the nation’s No. 2 cornerback and No. 17 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder has made multiple trips to Tiger Town and is a priority target for the Tigers. Last September, he released a top seven comprised of Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio State.

Harris will be joined on campus by a host of other talented defensive backs, including Harris’ teammate at Central, cornerback Quintavious Billingsley; Lake Mary (Fla.) four-star cornerback Braedan Marshall; Eagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.) three-star cornerback Colton Hood; Daniel (Central, S.C.) cornerback Misun Kelley; North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.) cornerback Khalil Barnes; Loachapoka (Auburn, Ala.) cornerback Jacorious Hart; Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) three-star safety Robert Billings; and A.C. Reynolds (Asheville, N.C.) safety Dashawn Stone.

Another headliner slated to be on hand for the spring elite day is Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) four-star offensive lineman Monroe Freeling.

It will mark his first visit to Clemson since attending the Florida State game in late October of last year. He was also on campus last June to participate in the Dabo Swinney Camp, after which he picked up an offer from the Tigers.

Freeling said during a recent interview with The Clemson Insider that the Tigers “stand highly” in his recruitment heading into today’s visit.

“I really loved the culture there when I first went up and I’ve been maintaining a good relationship with (offensive line) coach (Thomas) Austin,” he said, “and I’m just looking forward to growing it some more when I get out there.”

Along with Clemson, which is heavily pursuing Freeling, he named Miami and Notre Dame as a couple of schools that have been recruiting him the hardest.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Freeling is the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina, No. 9 offensive tackle nationally and No. 82 overall prospect for the 2023 class.

South Point (Belmont, N.C.) four-star offensive lineman Sullivan Absher will also return to Clemson after picking up an offer from the Tigers in February – an offer that he told TCI he “had been working for, for a very long time.”  He previously traveled to Clemson twice during this past season – first for the Boston College game in October and then for the Wake Forest game in November.

Another big-time offensive lineman will be on campus today as well in Eagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.) four-star tackle Zechariah Owens.

As for the defensive linemen expected to be among the junior day visitors, there are several prominent prospects, namely St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) four-star David Ojiegbe, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.) four-star Hunter Osborne, Rome (Ga.) four-star Stephiylan Green, Upson-Lee (Thomaston, Ga.) four-star T.J. Searcy and Woodward Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) four-star A.J. Hoffler.

A bunch of other standout class of 2023 prospects are on the expected guest list for the spring elite day, as well, including Hickory Ridge (Harrisburg, N.C.) four-star wide receiver Christian Hamilton; Bridgeland (Cypress, Texas) four-star tight end Reid Mikeska; Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.) four-star linebacker Dee Crayton; Fairfax (Va.) four-star linebacker Tony Rojas; F.W. Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.) three-star wide receiver Creed Whittemore; Maiden (N.C.) High School three-star wide receiver Chris Culliver; Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) three-star athlete Jordan Bass; Sumter (S.C.) athlete Zyeir Gamble; and Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) running back Jarvis Green.

A few notable 2024 prospects are planning to visit Clemson today, too, in Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.) four-star defensive back Tavoy Feagin, Weddington (Matthews, N.C.) tight end Brooks Mauk and Towers (Decatur, Ga.) wide receiver/cornerback Keshawn Weathers.

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Reed sees ‘untapped potential’ in Alabama CB set to visit Clemson soon

A talented defensive back prospect from a familiar Alabama high school is starting to see his recruitment pick up following his junior season last year. Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) 2023 cornerback Quintavious Billingsley received his …

A talented defensive back prospect from a familiar Alabama high school is starting to see his recruitment pick up following his junior season last year.

Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) 2023 cornerback Quintavious Billingsley received his first offer from Akron earlier this week, while schools such as Clemson and Toledo are also showing interest as he begins to gain some traction in the recruiting process.

“The recruiting process for me is just getting started,” he told The Clemson Insider. “I’m going to let everything play out, though, and trust the process because I know it takes time.”

Central High is the same school that produced Clemson rising junior receiver E.J. Williams, former Clemson wideout Justyn Ross and former Tiger safety Ray Thornton, who transferred to South Florida this offseason. Billingsley and Williams grew up playing basketball together.

Central High School (Phenix City, Ala.) 2023 cornerback Quintavious Billingsley (photo courtesy of Billingsley (@_qjb1) on Twitter)

Last year for the Red Devils, Billingsley (5-11, 170) finished his junior campaign with 24 tackles, including 14 solo tackles and three for loss, to go with a couple of interceptions. He allowed only one touchdown all season.

Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed is keeping in contact with and expressing interest in Billingsley, who is scheduled to attend the Tigers’ junior day this coming Saturday, March 5.

“I’ve been talking to Coach Mike Reed, and we communicate like two to three times a week,” Billingsley said, “and he wants me to come up there, so March 5th I’ll be at Clemson.”

“He told me he liked my size, and he sees some untapped potential,” Billingsley added. “He told me to keep doing what I’m doing.”

The March 5 junior day will mark Billingsley’s first time in Tiger Town. He has high interest in the Tigers and is excited to get on campus to experience what Clemson is like.

“From what I know I feel like it’s a good school to attend and I can’t wait to see everything,” he said. “They have a great atmosphere. I watch their vlogs on YouTube and I like how they get after it up there, and their fanbase is crazy.”

Billingsley is also planning to visit Akron, as well as travel to the University of Florida with one of his teammates.

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