A big offensive line prospect with half a dozen scholarship offers already under his belt is drawing interest from Clemson and made his way to Death Valley for the Tigers’ most recent game. Belmont (N.C.) South Point tackle Sullivan Absher was in …
A big offensive line prospect with half a dozen scholarship offers already under his belt is drawing interest from Clemson and made his way to Death Valley for the Tigers’ most recent game.
Belmont (N.C.) South Point tackle Sullivan Absher was in attendance as an unofficial visitor for the 19-13 victory over Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 2, and the class of 2023 recruit was blown away by his game-day experience on campus.
“The pregame environment was insane, there were people tailgating miles outside the stadium hours before kickoff,” Absher told The Clemson Insider. “The facilities are probably the best I’ve seen. The player lounge, the weight room, the cafeteria all are top notch. And then the game in Death Valley was amazing, the fans are great.”
Absher, a 6-foot-7, 290-pound junior, recently began hearing from Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and has been in regular contact with him of late.
“Clemson is definitely showing interest currently as well,” Absher said. “Coach Caldwell reached out several times a week to check up on me, which I really like and respect how he takes the time to do so.”
Absher has a tie to the Tigers’ football program in the form of former Clemson star safety Tanner Muse, who likewise went to South Point High School.
“The Muse family actually lives in the neighborhood next to us, so we’ve been family friends with them for a while,” Absher said. “Great family.”
Absher is coming off a visit to Virginia Tech for its game vs. Notre Dame on Saturday, and in addition to Clemson, he has been to North Carolina, Duke and NC State this season.
NC State, Duke, Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, East Carolina and Old Dominion have all extended offers to Absher, who figures to earn plenty more offers moving forward and hopes to see the Tigers eventually come calling with one of their own.
“An offer from Clemson would be a big accomplishment for me,” he said. “I mean an offer from a top-five program over the past decade is a pretty big deal. Clemson would definitely be near the top for me.”
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will be on hand for a five-star offensive lineman’s game tonight. The Clemson Insider has learned that Caldwell will see Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) five-star tackle Kadyn Proctor …
Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will be on hand for a five-star offensive lineman’s game tonight.
The Clemson Insider has learned that Caldwell will see Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) five-star tackle Kadyn Proctor play in his game at Prairie High (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
Proctor, a 6-foot-8, 335-pound junior, is ranked as the country’s No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2023 class by ESPN, Rivals and the 247Sports Composite, the latter of which considers him the No. 5 overall prospect in his class regardless of position.
In September, Proctor released a top 12 featuring Clemson along with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.
Clemson has not yet offered Proctor, but he explained to TCI recently why he still wanted to include the Tigers in his top group of schools.
“They’re a school that I think could really wrap up my recruitment with an offer,” he said. “So, I kind of just put them in there, and I’ve been talking to the coaches a lot. Coach Caldwell said he was going to try to get down here sometime in October. So, maybe after he watches one of my games, then I’ll get that offer and we can take that a little bit further.”
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
A talented O-line prospect with a tie to Clemson was back on campus last weekend for the Boston College game. Pendleton (S.C.) High School 2023 offensive tackle Aidan Leigh – the younger brother of former five-star recruit and current Clemson …
A talented O-line prospect with a tie to Clemson was back on campus last weekend for the Boston College game.
Pendleton (S.C.) High School 2023 offensive tackle Aidan Leigh – the younger brother of former five-star recruit and current Clemson freshman offensive lineman Tristan Leigh – attended the Tigers’ 19-13 victory over the Eagles on Saturday.
The Clemson Insider caught up with Aidan, who loved taking in the atmosphere of a night game at Death Valley.
“It was crazy,” he said. “It was loud and crazy.”
Aidan was also at Clemson’s home game against Georgia Tech on Sept. 18, as well as the season opener against Georgia in Charlotte on Sept. 4, but this past Saturday marked Aidan’s first time attending a game at Death Valley this season as a recruit on an unofficial visit.
“I enjoyed it a lot, especially like the community,” he said. “It was loud, and the game itself was really good, too.”
Getting to be on the field before kickoff to watch the Tigers get ready for the game was one of the highlights of the day for Aidan.
“When you’re on the field during warmups, you really get to see all the players,” he said, “and you kind of see a different perspective of what it looks like being on the field.”
Aidan had the chance to work with Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell at the Dabo Swinney Camp this past summer, and the two were able to catch up again last Saturday.
Caldwell let the 6-foot-6, 290-pound junior know that he is keeping tabs on him.
“He said he’s been watching my film and to keep on doing good,” Aidan said. “I really like talking to him because he’s always 100 with me, and he says that he sees a lot of potential in me.”
“One, he likes my length, and he likes my feet, how fast my feet are,” Aidan added.
Aidan said he and Caldwell have developed a close relationship over time.
“I think it’s really tight,” Aidan said. “It got pretty tight when he was recruiting my brother, so when I see him it’s always all love.”
Speaking of Tristan, he is having a great experience as a student-athlete at Clemson so far during his freshman year, according to Aidan.
“He loves it. He loves it so much,” Aidan said. “He just likes how it’s like a family. They treat you really good there. They make sure you’re all mentally OK and physically OK.”
Aidan currently lists offers from Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Maryland, and figures to see more offers come his way moving forward. Right now, he is in no rush to make his college decision and wants to take more visits and explore all his options before rendering a commitment.
“I’m still trying to figure it out and kind of see all my possibilities and all the different places,” he said, “because I really want to see it in person before I make a big decision.”
Receiving an offer from Clemson in the future and having the opportunity to follow in his brother’s footsteps as a Tiger would be a dream come true for Aidan, who had the opportunity to play with Tristan at Robinson Secondary School (Fairfax, Va.) last season when Aidan was a sophomore and Tristan was a senior.
After Tristan committed to Clemson, his family decided to move to the area with him, so Aidan is now playing at Pendleton High.
“It would be crazy, having that chance,” Aidan said of possibly teaming up with Tristan again at Clemson. “Because last year me and my brother got to play together, and it was the most fun year of football I’ve ever had. So, I think it 100 percent would be insanely crazy.”
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
A big-time offensive lineman from Alabama has been making the rounds so far this college football season, seeing games at different schools, and Clemson will be his next stop. Bradyn Joiner, a four-star prospect in the 2023 class from Auburn High …
A big-time offensive lineman from Alabama has been making the rounds so far this college football season, seeing games at different schools, and Clemson will be his next stop.
Bradyn Joiner, a four-star prospect in the 2023 class from Auburn High School, is set to visit Clemson for its game against Boston College on Saturday.
Joiner (6-3, 310) is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 center in the 2023 class and the No. 105 overall prospect in the class by Rivals.
“It’s always a great time down there, so of course I’m excited to get back down there,” Joiner told The Clemson Insider ahead of his trip to Tiger Town.
Joiner was previously on campus for an unofficial visit in July, but Saturday will mark his first time attending a game at Clemson since his ninth-grade year in 2019.
“I remember the crowd being electric,” he said, looking back on his first experience at Death Valley, “and it was a lot of fun actually.”
Now a junior, Joiner has been in contact with Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and area recruiter Todd Bates since Sept. 1, when college coaching staffs could begin initiating conversations with high school juniors (class of 2023 prospects).
“I would say I have been hearing good things,” Joiner said. “Hopefully it results into an offer.”
Joiner, who lists over 30 total offers, released a top 10 in July comprised of Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Arizona State, Indiana, UCF, Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn, Ole Miss and Virginia Tech.
However, Joiner said at the time that his recruitment was “still 100-percent open,” and the Tigers are telling him to sit tight as he waits for a potential offer from them.
“Just to stay patient, that it’s coming,” he said of Clemson’s message to him.
Joiner has also been to games at Georgia, Georgia Tech and Auburn thus far this season.
Where does Clemson stand with him heading into Saturday’s visit?
“They are definitely a top team for me,” he said. “Very high in my recruitment.”
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
Payton Kirkland, one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2023 class, is certainly glad that he narrowed down his recruitment last weekend. Since trimming his list of more than 40 scholarship offers to 12 schools, it has been a big stress …
Payton Kirkland, one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2023 class, is certainly glad that he narrowed down his recruitment last weekend.
Since trimming his list of more than 40 scholarship offers to 12 schools, it has been a big stress relief for the four-star offensive tackle from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.
“The recruiting process has gotten a lot better with these past few days, a lot less hectic,” Kirkland told The Clemson Insider.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds by 247Sports, Kirkland named Clemson one of his top 12 schools last Saturday, along with Florida, Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M and UCF.
Although Clemson has not extended an offer to Kirkland just yet, he included the Tigers in his top group anyway – in large part because of the consistent contact he’s had with offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and area recruiter C.J. Spiller since Sept. 1, when college coaches could start reaching out to high school juniors like Kirkland.
“They told me to expect an offer soon, and I’m just waiting patiently,” he said. “They’ve kept in contact with me probably more than any other program. Every day — every morning, every afternoon — I hear from Coach Spiller, Coach Caldwell and Coach Elliott.”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve talked to those three every day since September 1st,” Kirkland added.
Kirkland called the substantial interest he’s receiving from the Tigers “amazing” and said it’s “definitely a blessing.”
All in all, what has been the message from Clemson’s coaches to Kirkland since Sept. 1?
“They’re excited about me,” he said, “and they can’t wait to get me back on campus, pretty much.”
Kirkland attended Clemson’s spring game in April and returned to campus during the Dabo Swinney Camp this past June, but because of his high school football schedule, he isn’t sure yet when or if he will be able to make it back to Tiger Town for a game this season.
“The thing with these in-season visits is just they end up happening last minute or you find out about it last minute because you have a game the night before,” he said. “Personally, I think it’ll be after the season.”
Right now, Kirkland is simply going with the flow of his recruiting process and doesn’t know what the next step for him is now that he has narrowed things down, though he doesn’t expect to render his college decision in the foreseeable future.
“I’m pretty easy going when it comes to my recruitment,” he said. “You don’t really see or hear too much about me. So, I just take my time with it and whatever happens, happens. I don’t think I’ll probably be committing anytime soon.”
Clemson is already one of Kirkland’s top schools, even though he doesn’t yet have an offer from the program.
So, if the Tigers eventually pull the trigger on an offer as he anticipates will be the case, it would be a significant development in his recruitment considering the strong bond he has built with Clemson’s staff.
“It’ll mean a lot,” he said. “We’ve been building a relationship for almost three years now.”
What stands out the most to Kirkland about Clemson?
“I’d say it’s the culture,” he said, “and they’re probably more consistent with me than any other school, even on that list.”
Kirkland is tabbed as the No. 9 offensive tackle in the 2023 class by both Rivals and the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
A day after saying he is “considering everything” when it comes to potential changes along Clemson’s offensive line, Dabo Swinney on Wednesday doubled down on the possibility of more alterations coming. “I’m not sure yet,” Clemson’s coach said when …
A day after saying he is “considering everything” when it comes to potential changes along Clemson’s offensive line, Dabo Swinney on Wednesday doubled down on the possibility of more alterations coming.
“I’m not sure yet,” Clemson’s coach said when asked if he’ll run the same starting five out against Boston College on Saturday. “We’ll see what (offensive coordinator) Tony (Elliott) and (offensive line coach) Robbie (Caldwell) come up with between now and then. We might run the same guys out there, and we might run out a whole new five. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
No. 19 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) made one tweak there last week against North Carolina State, inserting sophomore Paul Tchio at left guard in place of true freshman Marcus Tate, who started the first three games. Swinney said Tchio did “some good things” in his first extended playing time of the season, but, like much of the group, is still working on consistency.
“Got to get better and will get better. He’s a tough, physical kid that just needs to grow and get some experience,” Swinney said. “Glad he had that opportunity, and he’ll learn from it.”
Hunter Rayburn also got some reps with Tchio and Tate at that left guard spot, but there weren’t rotations at any other spot along the line in the Tigers’ double-overtime loss to N.C. State. There once again wasn’t much room for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei or the running backs to operate on the ground with Clemson finishing with just 103 rushing yards on 23 carries. A bulk of those yards came on Uiagelelei’s 37-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter, easily the Tigers’ longest run of the season.
Clemson enters Saturday’s game ranked 99th out of 130 FBS teams in rushing (126.2 yards per game) and will be without its leading rusher, Will Shipley (leg injury), for at least the next three or four weeks. But if more personnel changes are made up front, they’ll likely be contained to the interior with Jordan McFadden and Walker Parks performing to Swinney’s liking at tackle.
“I’m pleased with both of those guys,” Swinney said. “Jordan, he’s about as solid as it comes. He’s a really good player. And Walker has done a nice job, too. He gets himself in a little bit of trouble every now and then. He’s very aggressive, but I’m pleased with Parks as a first-year starter. He’s just going to get better, better and better.”
Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!
The Clemson Insider checked back in with this Class of 2023 offensive lineman, who took in a gameday visit for Clemson’s matchup against Georgia Tech this past Saturday. Alcoa (Tenn.) High School’s Lance Williams has been feeling the love from …
The Clemson Insider checked back in with this Class of 2023 offensive lineman, who took in a gameday visit for Clemson’s matchup against Georgia Tech this past Saturday.
Alcoa (Tenn.) High School’s Lance Williams has been feeling the love from Clemson since Sept. 1 and officially made his way back to Tiger Town to take in his first Death Vally experience.,
“It was fun. I liked it a lot. I had fun. I talked with a lot of the coaches and I had a great time,” Williams told TCI. I liked the energy they bring and the hype in the stadium. I also have an offer from Georgia Tech, so it was cool to see both of them play each other. It was a good game.”
What did Williams hear from Clemson’s coaching staff while he was on campus?
“They were saying how they were talking to my coaches and I was playing good this year,” he said. “They were excited that I was up there and they’re looking forward to getting me up here a lot more.”
Williams worked out in front of Clemson’s offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell at the Dabo Swinney Camp this past summer and has kept in contact with him, including multiple phone conversations, since June. Williams had the chance to meet Caldwell face-to-face again this past Saturday.
“He’s a great coach,” Williams said of Caldwell. “I like being able to make a relationship with him because I know that he’s not gonna leave there anytime soon, so if I was to go there, I know he’ll be there, which makes me feel a lot better.”
As for Thomas Austin, Williams said that the Clemson offensive analyst sat with him and his family while they ate during their meal.
Williams isn’t 100% sure that he’ll return to The Valley this season, but he indicated that there’s a good chance he might, it just depends on the rest of his schedule. In addition to Clemson, Williams has also been to Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia Tech for game day visits this season. He mentioned those schools as ones currently standing out in his recruitment.
Though, a game-day experience in Death Valley is just different.
“They’re obviously one of the best programs in the country, so it was cool to be able to see that and see how they run things,” Williams said.
Currently, Clemson is one of the top schools in Williams’s recruitment, even though he doesn’t currently hold an offer from the Tigers just yet. While he hasn’t heard about an offer, it’s Williams’ understanding that Clemson is going to take a patient approach, so they can get to know him and vice versa.
“Honestly, the way they talk to me and my coaches, I feel like there is a good chance that they will offer,” he said.
What does that mean to Williams?
“It’s definitely a cool experience because that’s like one of the top programs in the country,” he added. “Them wanting me to come up there makes me feel good about myself.”
The Clemson Insider checked back in with this Class of 2023 prospect, who was recently offered by Clemson. Life Christain Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) 2023 interior offensive lineman Joshua Miller has long labeled Clemson as his “dream school” …
The Clemson Insider checked back in with this Class of 2023 prospect, who was recently offered by Clemson.
Life Christain Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) 2023 interior offensive lineman Joshua Miller has long labeled Clemson as his “dream school” and has often described the program as being such during his conversations with TCI, dating back to June.
“I’ve been getting a lot of love from Clemson,” Miller said. “All the coaches be texting me — QB coach (Brandon Streeter), running backs coach (C.J. Spiller), offensive line coach (Robbie Caldwell) — I’ve just been getting a lot of, to be honest. Everybody’s been sending me messages, checking in on me. The love is definitely there.”
Clemson kept its promise to Miller. They kept close contact with the big-time Virginia offensive lineman and rewarded him with an offer back on Sept. 2.
It was a long time coming for Miller, who has had a lot happen in his personal life over the past year.
(Photo courtesy of Life Christain Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) 2023 interior offensive lineman Joshua Miller)
“That means a lot because I was talking to Coach Caldwell, I would say since probably around May,” Miller said. “I’ve been keeping in contact since then and he always told me the same thing. He always told me to be patient with ‘em. He told me the offer was going to come sooner or later, just be patient with ‘em. For him to continuously check in on me, made sure we stayed in contact like every week. For him to just live up to his end of the bargain, means a lot.”
Miller understands that an offer from Clemson certainly holds a different kind of weight. The Tigers take a different approach than any other school in the country. Miller stayed the course and he wound up with the offer he was waiting for.
“It’s kind of like an eye-opener,” Miller said. “I’ve done put in the work. In February of last year (2020), I was 360 pounds and I cut that weight down to 320, I’d say in probably four months. I worked for it. I’ve been through a lot to get to the offer. Just to have an offer from my dream school, means a lot. It’s an unreal feeling.”
Since Caldwell extended Miller his scholarship offer, the two have been keeping in touch, with Clemson’s offensive line coach sending him well wishes and keeping in contact as often as possible.
Miller plays right tackle for his high school, but just by looking at guys at the next level, he assumes he’ll slide into guard, which he has no qualms with. That positional versatility is what Clemson and Caldwell often look for when recruiting offensive linemen.
Miller worked out at guard for Caldwell at the Dabo Swinney Camp back in June.
Where does Clemson currently stand for Miller, now that he has the offer?
“They definitely up there in my recruitment,” he said. “I’d definitely put them in my top-5 schools.”
In addition to Clemson, Miller lists Tennessee, Florida State and Virginia Tech as the schools currently standing out in his recruitment.
Miller doesn’t have a timetable for a decision, but he may be looking to commit before 2021 is over.
“I know right now that these months leading up to the end of the year, I know I’ll be thorough in my research about schools. I know I’ll be doing my research about them, trying to figure out what’s the best opportunity for me. So, when that time comes, I’ll be ready for it.”
Miller was in the stands for Clemson’s marquee season-opening matchup against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. While he was there as a guest of Clemson and the Tigers fell 10-3 in a defensive showdown, Miller really enjoyed himself.
“It was a good experience,” he said. “First off, when I got there, the energy was through the roof. You heard Georgia and Clemson’s fans arguing throughout the whole stadium all night long. They were going: ‘Go Dawgs, Go Tigers.’ It was just like a feud all night. The energy was up there. When Clemson made a play, the crowd went crazy. When Georgia made a play, the crowd went crazy. It was really just a battle by the fans all night long.”
Miller is planning on coming to Clemson’s game against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. His first game day experience in Death Valley will be a conference matchup under the bright lights at Memorial Stadium.
“I got a little bit of experience when I was there (in Charlotte), but it not really being a home game, I wasn’t able to get the full experience,” Miller said. “So, I’m excited to get down there to Clemson and actually see what an actual game day is like at their home stadium.”
Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!
This in-state prospect is starting to adapt to just how hectic the recruiting process can be. The Clemson Insider checked back in with Oceanside Collegiate Prep Academy’s Monroe Freeling, a four-star offensive tackle in the 2023 class, who has …
This in-state prospect is starting to adapt to just how hectic the recruiting process can be.
The Clemson Insider checked back in with Oceanside Collegiate Prep Academy’s Monroe Freeling, a four-star offensive tackle in the 2023 class, who has received a lot of attention from Clemson as of late.
Freeling picked up an offer from Clemson over the summer, after participating in the Dabo Swinney Camp, and the love hasn’t stopped since.
He immediately heard from the Tigers on Sept. 1, when coaching staffs were cleared to start initiating contact with recruits in the Class of 2023 (high school juniors).
“I mean I’ve been getting a lot of love (from Clemson) since (Sept. 1). I’ve been getting personalized graphics every single day,” he told TCI. “I’ve been getting good luck texts, just lots of love from Clemson. From Coach Caldwell, Coach Elliott, a little love from Dabo himself.”
Robbie Caldwell, Clemson’s longtime offensive line coach, was in attendance to see Freeling play this past Friday. His high school — Oceanside Collegiate Prep Academy — just happened to be facing off against Myrtle Beach High School and Clemson’s four-star wide receiver commit, Adam Randall.
Caldwell texted Freeling afterward, telling him: “great job fighting back in the game.” The Landsharks lost a hard-fought matchup that came down to the wire. Randall’s high school came away with a 34-31 victory.
Freeling is planning on making it to his first Clemson home game in The Valley when the Tigers host FSU on Oct. 30. While it won’t be Freeling’s first Clemson game, it will be his first time at Memorial Stadium.
He was a guest of Clemson’s for the team’s season-opening marquee matchup against Georgia at Bank of America in Charlotte back on Sept. 4.
“It was an interesting experience because it was my first college football game, but all of my family was saying that it kind of felt like a bowl game just because of the location and everything,” Freeling said. “I know that’s probably how playoff games are…I think a home experience will really give me a Clemson experience more than a neutral site game.”
As far as his recruitment is concerned, Freeling is trying to focus on this season. Oceanside has a pretty big senior class and he wants to devote this season to his buddies, most of whom are seniors.
“I’m starting to engage with (my recruitment) some more, but as far as making decisions and everything, it’s hard to make those when I got this season on my mind,” he said.
In addition to Clemson, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UNC, Penn State, Virginia, Kentucky, Miami and Georgia are among the schools currently standing out there in his recruitment.
He’s going down to Chapel Hill this weekend to see the No. 21 Tar Heels host Virginia. Additionally, he may see No. 8 Cincinnati take on No. 12 Notre Dame down in South Bend on Oct. 2.
Still, Clemson’s right there at the top and the Tigers have made a really good impression on Freeling and his family thus far.
“Me and my family had a really good time up there,” Freeling said. “I mean me and my mom, they treated us like family, what can I say? I think that I’ll be up there for the FSU game and I’ll probably be up there in the offseason.”
Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!
This Class of 2022 running back was among the visitors in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State this past Saturday, Sept. 11. Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep’s Kanye Udoh had a chance to catch up with The Clemson Insider …
This Class of 2022 running back was among the visitors in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State this past Saturday, Sept. 11.
Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep’s Kanye Udoh had a chance to catch up with The Clemson Insider regarding his experience in The Valley and what the three-star running back has been hearing from Clemson as of late.
“It was great. It was an amazing experience getting to see everything up close, getting to be around the players and coaches,” Udoh told TCI. “They seem very interested in me. They said that they wanted me to come back up there again.”
There were a lot of highlights during Udoh’s visit to Clemson, but if he had to pick one, it would be just being around the locker room, he said.
“It just felt like they were really like a family, so to speak,” he added. “It felt like they were really all on one page, one mission, one goal. That was definitely impressive. They all seemed laser locked in and focused.”
It was by no means an easy trip for Udoh and his family, but it was worth it in the end.
He had a high school game the Friday night before and wound up flying out of Philadelphia around 4 a.m. on Saturday morning. Then after the flight, he and his family caught a rental car and drove down to Clemson.
This was Udoh’s first-ever game day visit.
It doesn’t get much better than what Udoh experienced at Memorial Stadium. Not to mention getting the chance to converse with a Hall of Fame running back. That just doesn’t happen every day.
Two weeks ago, Udoh was watching C.J. Spiller’s highlights on YouTube. This past Saturday, he was able to meet Clemson’s running backs coach in person for a surreal experience.
“Me and him had a good conversation on the field,” Udoh said. “He just was seeing how my trip was. I got to ask him a couple of questions, like some advice he would give to running backs. It was a good conversation.”
Though, Udoh’s main point of contact at Clemson has been Tigers’ offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell.
“He’s a really good coach,” Udoh said of Caldwell. “I really like him a lot.
Udoh is unsure of a potential offer, but he does believe that Clemson wants to see what he’s able to put on film during his senior season. With that being said, the New Jersey native is appreciative of the way the Tigers handle the recruiting process.
“I like it because it means if they offer me, that they’re serious,” he said. “They’re not playing no games if they really want me. So they already sort of vetted me out already, see the kind of person I am, they like me and they want me there.”
In addition to Clemson, Udoh mentioned schools like Rutgers, Temple and Nebraska as ones that are currently standing out in his recruitment. He holds offers from the trio of schools mentioned above but also has Power 5 offers from programs like Boston College, Maryland Syracuse and West Virginia.
Udoh describes himself as a fast, big running back, who has good balance and good vision.
He got an opportunity to see how Clemson utilizes its backs in the team’s 46-point win over S.C. State, which got out of hand pretty quickly
“I like how they use their running backs. Getting them the ball in space, trying to make me people miss and get upfield,” he said. “ Will Shipley, he had a good game when I went up there. That was very impressive.”
