Tag: Robbie Caldwell

Clemson makes sizeable impression on big Tennessee OL

Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell has done his best to keep tabs on Class of 2023 offensive linemen, especially those that camped at Clemson this summer. One that’s been on Caldwell’s radar is Alcoa (Tenn.) 2023 IOL Lance Wiliams, who has …

Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell has done his best to keep tabs on Class of 2023 offensive linemen, especially those that camped at Clemson this summer.

One that’s been on Caldwell’s radar is Alcoa (Tenn.) 2023 IOL Lance Wiliams, who has been in contact with Clemson recently. In fact, he was on the phone with Caldwell just the other day.

Williams (6-4, 300) caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his current recruitment and what he’s been hearing from Caldwell and the Tigers lately.

“I like him a lot,” Williams told TCI, regarding his relationship with Caldwell. “He’s a good coach and obviously Clemson doesn’t offer when you’re still young.”

Caldwell has told Williams to remain patient and that good things will potentially be ahead for the big Tennessee lineman. 

He’s been made aware of how the Tigers go about their business and is certainly appreciative of their willingness to build those relationships from the get-go.

“Yeah, I do,” Williams said when asked if he likes Clemson’s recruitment style, “because I also want to be able to build a relationship with them. If I don’t have a good relationship with the coaches or something like that, then that wouldn’t be a good school to go to. But, I do have a good relationship with Coach Caldwell. I like him a lot and my parents like him a lot too.”

Williams visited Clemson earlier this summer and had an opportunity to participate in Dabo Swinney Camp, in addition to receiving some feedback from Caldwell.

“It was definitely one of the nicest places I’ve ever been to, I’ll tell you that,” he said. 

According to Williams, Caldwell really liked what he brought to the table, especially during the camp sessions.

“He said for me still being young, I’m out there holding my own against them old guys that are already committed places and all that,” Williams said. “He’s said I’ve been doing pretty good.”

Williams describes himself as an aggressive, fast-moving player. Which is certainly unique for his size.

He worked out at both guard positions during his time at Clemson, but he starts at left guard for his high school team.

Williams can play every position on the offensive line, but his home at the next level will be as an interior lineman. 

What’s really helped Williams stay in shape and improve his technique is wrestling. Just about every offensive line coach he’s connected with revels in the fact that Williams is a Heavyweight Wrestling State Champion.

Clemson, Kentucky and West Virginia were among Williams’ favorite visits this summer. He also visited Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Auburn.

Clemson has made a sizable impression on Williams thus far, as he’s still trying to just soak everything in.

“It’s definitely overwhelming, but I’m very excited to maybe have a chance to play there,” he said.

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

Elite OL building special bond with Caldwell

One offensive line prospect firmly on Clemson’s recruiting radar for the 2023 class is Sunshine State standout Payton Kirkland. Kirkland, one of the nation’s top tackles, is focused on winning a state championship as he prepares for his junior …

One offensive line prospect firmly on Clemson’s recruiting radar for the 2023 class is Sunshine State standout Payton Kirkland.

Kirkland, one of the nation’s top tackles, is focused on winning a state championship as he prepares for his junior season at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.

“Everything’s going good,” he said regarding offseason workouts with his squad. “The team’s coming together. We’re starting to realize who the leaders are on the team, and we’re just getting ready to try to take it all the way this year.”

Kirkland, a massive and talented 6-foot-8, 310-pound prospect, knows what his best attributes as an offensive lineman are and what he needs to improve upon heading into his upcoming campaign.

“I feel like my strengths at this time are really my knowledge of the game and my athletic ability,” he said. “And what I’m working on going into the season is just getting back into football shape, being stronger … because it’s hard to keep that same strength in the offseason.”

Kirkland visited Clemson with a group of prospects from the Orlando area on June 2, when the Dabo Swinney Camp got underway. He also made trips last month to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, Florida State, UCF, FAU and FIU.

When Kirkland looks back on the Clemson visit, one thing stands out to him more than anything.

“What stuck out to me the most is the intensity that (offensive line) coach (Robbie) Caldwell coaches with,” he said.

Kirkland, the country’s No. 11 offensive tackle in the 2023 class per the 247Sports Composite rankings, has kept in contact with Caldwell since the visit and is building a unique, familial-like relationship with him.

“I talked to Coach Caldwell a couple times since then,” Kirkland said. “Coach Caldwell’s a great guy. He’s cool to talk to.”

“He’s kind of like a grandpa, I’m going to be honest,” Kirkland added, laughing.

Kirkland lists more than 40 offers from major programs such as Ohio State, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Michigan and Penn State, to name some.

So far, Clemson has offered only one offensive lineman in the 2023 class – Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Oceanside Collegiate Academy four-star tackle Monroe Freeling.

Kirkland isn’t sure exactly where he stands with the Tigers as far as a potential offer but is staying patient and leaning on his faith as he waits for one to possibly come.

“I’m on God’s timing,” Kirkland said. “So, whenever God feels it’s great for me to have the offer, then I’ll be blessed to accept it.”

Kirkland said he will likely start to narrow down his list of college choices during the season.

The Tigers would sit well with Kirkland and be in a good spot in his recruitment if they pull the trigger on an offer moving forward.

“Oh, most definitely,” he said.

Kirkland is ranked as high as the No. 79 overall prospect in the 2023 class regardless of position by Rivals. He will hit the road again later this month to check out Ohio State and Michigan State.

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

Offer ‘would mean a lot’ to Virginia OL

After going down to Clemson and camping at Dabo Swinney Camp earlier last month, many prospects are keeping in touch with Clemson’s coaching staff. One of those recruits is Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Virginia) 2023 three-star IOL …

After going down to Clemson and camping at Dabo Swinney Camp earlier last month, many prospects are keeping in touch with Clemson’s coaching staff.

One of those recruits is Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Virginia) 2023 three-star IOL Joshua Miller, who has been keeping in constant contact with Robbie Caldwell.

Miller called him about a week or so ago.

According to Miller, Caldwell sounded good. Clemson’s offensive line coach was proud of the big Virginia offensive lineman’s grades.

Caldwell told Miller that on July 15, he and the rest of Clemson’s offensive coaching staff are scheduled to have a meeting. 

“He said that I’m one of their top priorities right now,” Miller told TCI. “I’ve just been hearing good news, honestly, from Clemson lately.”

Miller is hoping that this meeting will materialize into an official scholarship offer. 

“It would mean a lot,” Miller said of potentially receiving an offer, “Just from watching the Clemson football program since a young age and just being a fan of the school, in general. It would just mean a lot to get an offer from the school.”

“That’s a dream school right there,” Miller added. “That’s where I want to go.”

Even without an offer, Miller and Caldwell are already forming a tight bond.

“We have a pretty good relationship,” he said. “Whenever me and Coach Caldwell talk on the phone, it’s always smiles and laughs. Honestly, he already seems like a genuine guy with his actions. When he saw me in person, he didn’t change, started acting differently. He treated me like he treated me over the phone. It’s just a good relationship as of right now, working to build on it even more.”

Miller is definitely planning on getting back down to Clemson in the fall for a game. That’s something he’s already talked about with Caldwell, but they’ll need to plan it out as the regular season inches closer.

“Without the offer, they’re still pretty high on my list because one thing I can say while I’m looking for a college too, my biggest thing is family,” Miller said. “I want to go somewhere where everything just seems like family, nothing feels forced, everybody wants to see you be better. That’s the type of vibe I’m looking for in a college and when I went up there, that’s how it was. It was just a family environment.”

That being said, what’s Miller’s overall impression of Clemson thus far?

“Obviously, everybody knows that Clemson’s a great program, but actually seeing it from the inside, I could tell that everybody there is focused on the main goal,” he said. “Everybody there’s trying to build. I could just see how determined everybody is, just to be at that top level of performers.”

Miller hasn’t had conversations with Caldwell about where Clemson envisions him at the next level. He’s willing to play anywhere that a team wants him and has the positional versatility to play all across the line. During Swinney Camp, he worked out at both tackle and guard.

“I would describe myself as an athletic, technical player,” Miller said. “I’m very athletic for my size and I’m focused on the small parts of my game. I’m not so focused on the bigger parts, but I’m the person that’s going to find my biggest weakness and work towards that and perfect it. I’m just a technical guy and I’m an all-around player.”

Caldwell likes Miller’s athleticism and his passion for the game. That would certainly play well at Clemson.

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