Tag: TCI Tour of Champions

Tour of Champions: Clemson’s 4-star LB commit shines in big win

HOSCHTON, Ga. – One of Clemson’s four-star linebacker commits shined in a big-time win Friday night. Mill Creek’s Jamal Anderson accounted for 4.5 tackles, two quarterback pressures and a QB hit, along with some staunch coverage in his team’s 52-36 …

HOSCHTON, Ga. — One of Clemson’s four-star linebacker commits shined in a big-time win Friday night.

Mill Creek’s Jamal Anderson accounted for 4.5 tackles, two quarterback pressures and a QB hit, along with some staunch coverage in his team’s 52-36 win over Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove.

Both teams entered Friday night’s contest undefeated and yet the game was never close.

After scoring a touchdown and converting on a two-point conversion in the second quarter, Cedar Grove was down by one score (21-14). The ensuing kickoff was returned by Mill Creek for a 94-yard touchdown and effectively took away any momentum that the Saints had built to get the game within one possession.

Mill Creek went into halftime leading 38-21, thanks in part to the defensive performance of Anderson. The Hawks never squandered their lead.

The Clemson Insider was on hand to see Anderson play on the second stop of this year’s Tour of Champions. You can check out clips from his impressive performance below:

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Tour of Champions: 5-star Vizzina Photo Gallery

The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions stopped by Briarwood Christian Friday night to see Clemson 5-star QB commit Christopher Vizzina in action. Vizzina accounted for more than 300 total yards and four total touchdowns in his team’s 36-29 victory …

The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions stopped by Briarwood Christian Friday night to see Clemson 5-star QB commit Christopher Vizzina in action.  Vizzina accounted for more than 300 total yards and four total touchdowns in his team’s 36-29 victory over Chilton County (Clanton, Ala.).

Check out some pictures of Vizzina from Friday night’s contest in TCI’s Photo Gallery.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Tour of Champions: Five-star Woods goes in-depth with TCI

ALABASTER Ala. – The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Thompson High School, home to big-time Clemson target, Peter Woods Woods – a 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior – ranks as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the country for the …

ALABASTER Ala. — The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Thompson High School, home to big-time Clemson target, Peter Woods

Woods — a 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior — ranks as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the country for the class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

After naming a top six, which includes Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Auburn and Florida, Woods gave the latest on his recruitment and where things stand after a couple of January visits.

“I’ve just been thinking about making some official and unoffcial visits,” Woods said. “That will be monumental to making my decision in the spring. My idea right now is to try to go ahead and get my decision made before my senior season, but you know it’s all God’s plan. If that’s not the plan — I don’t know — then I’m not gonna force it. That’s kind of where I am right now.”

This past season, he recorded 93 tackles (27 for loss) and 14 sacks. After having a dominant junior campaign, Woods had a funny story to pass along.. He was making his highlight clip and as he was going through his film, there’s a certain time that you have to make the video. 

“I’m going through my highlight film and I was like, ‘Dang, this is way too long,’” Woods recalled. “I have all these plays, all these tackles that could have ended up cutting down from about like 10 minutes to like three minutes. I think that I did get a lot of what I wanted to get on there, of course, there’s gonna be some things you leave off just for the sake of time, but I think in my highlight, you get the gist of the type of player that I am.”

Versatility is a big thing for Woods, it makes him an interchangeable presence across a defensive front.

“Explosive,” Woods said when asked to describe himself as a player. “I pride myself on being explosive, being able to beat the guy with my first step. That’s one thing and Football IQ. I’m really smart in the game, like for instance, if I’m pass-rushing, I know what kind of points to hit, how to use my angles and stuff like that. The sciences of football is something I’ve really taken to.”

Workouts have already started for Thompson High School. In fact, they started back in January. As Woods prepares for his final season of high school football, he’s working on his flexibility. He feels that aspect of his game, also helps him with his speed and his agility.

As Woods indicated, he would like to have a decision made prior to his senior season. With that being said, what are some of the biggest factors he’s ultimately going to consider when it comes time to make that decision.

“The main thing with me is just the people that I know I’m gonna be around and be involved with,” he said. “And just the people in the environment, not just the people that I’ll be directly involved with, but people who will be able to impact my life and vice versa. That’s probably number one for me and, of course, the coaches and the playstyle and all that other stuff will factor in, but that’s my number one.”

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Tour of Champions: 5-star DL ‘felt accepted’ at Clemson

ALABASTER Ala. – The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Thompson High School, home to big-time Clemson target, Peter Woods Fresh off his latest visit to The Valley, Woods, who is ranked as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the …

ALABASTER Ala. — The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Thompson High School, home to big-time Clemson target, Peter Woods

Fresh off his latest visit to The Valley, Woods, who is ranked as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the 2023 class per the 247Sports Composite, recapped his Clemson Elite Junior Day experience with TCI.

“Mainly being at that junior day, it was just a lot of family vibes,” Woods said. “I got a lot of family vibes from just being around the coaching staff and the players. I just felt accepted. A big thing for Clemson for me is just the culture that Coach Swinney has at Clemson. For the most part, just being really family-oriented, just like an ‘I got your back type-deal.’ So, that’s a big thing for me coming from (Thompson.)”

What was Clemson’s message to Woods when he was back on campus?

“Basically, they got a lot of guys that came back for the D-line this past year, that’ll probably leave for the draft this coming year,” he said. “You got Bryan Bresee and KJ Henry and (Xavier Thomas), who decided to come back. One thing for me would just be kind of like a plug-and-play guy because they’ll be a little thin at D-line. In their ‘22 recruiting class, they didn’t really get that many guys.”

Woods made multiple trips to Clemson this past season and had an opportunity to take in some game-day experiences at Memorial Stadium. While he’s recapped those experiences before, he was able to give an in-depth look at what being a recruit in The Valley for a game day looks like.

“The traditions immediately jump off at me,” Woods said. “The hill and the walking and the linking, it just kind of shows a brotherhood. Something that people do and that look you forward to and that they do together as brothers. That’s just a big thing for me, just seeing the traditions and it just goes back and links into the family.”

Clemson’s junior day was also Woods’ first time returning to campus in the aftermath of Brent Venables and Todd Bates’ departures to Oklahoma. Both had previously served as his primary recruiters at Clemson, but as he previously indicated to TCI, Bates leaving the program doesn’t change how he views the program, the school itself or the staff.

It also helps that Woods has a prior relationship with Clemson’s newly-minted defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator, Nick Eason.

Woods said that he’s always been taught by his parents, that when he’s picking a school, to just fall in love with the said school, the environment and the people you’re gonna be with.

“I definitely have a great relationship with Clemson and not just Coach Bates, so that was a big part of it for me,” Woods added.

As we’ve come to find out this offseason, coaches could be temporary or they could be permanent. You just never know in today’s day and age.

“Coach Eason is a great guy,” he said. “Very knowledgeable in the game of football and just life. He’s been there before and that’s another thing that I feel like he can help me with and I can benefit from, just the fact that he knows how to get to the next level, what they’re expecting, so he knows kind of what to pour into me.”

In that same breath, Woods gave his thoughts on what Clemson’s defensive line might look like under Eason’s direction and he seemed to be pleased with his own answer.

“Their D-line this past year was nasty and it’s only gonna get better with all those guys coming back,” he said. “I feel like they’ll probably be the best D-line in the country, regardless of FBS, FCS, all that. They definitely have the talent and they definitely gonna have the coaches to get them through it with Coach Eason coming in. I know he’s gonna have to build a relationship with the guys, but can he coach? That’s not really a question.”

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Top Clemson QB target goes in-depth with TCI on his recruitment

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Briarwood Christian School, home to big-time Clemson quarterback target Christopher Vizzina. Vizzina – a 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior – ranks as the No. 8 …

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Briarwood Christian School, home to big-time Clemson quarterback target Christopher Vizzina.

Vizzina — a 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior — ranks as the No. 8 signal-caller in the country for the class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

While he currently weighs several contenders in his recruitment, like Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida, to name a few, Vizzina gave the latest on his recruitment and where things stand after a couple of January visits.

“My big thing right now — it’s the dead period — no coaches are…I’m not going on any visits or anything,” Vizzina said. “I’m really sitting down and deciding where I want to go to see spring practice(s) because at the end of the day these are coaches and I want to see them coach in person and see how I would fit that. That’s my big thing right now and I’m really deciding on which places I want to go to.”

As far as his recruitment is concerned, Vizzina is keeping his options pretty open. He’s considering all schools when it comes to making his spring practice visits. He does have a lot of offers around the Southeast, so he could definitely make his way around there.

When it comes time to make a decision — Vizzina has previously indicated to TCI that he would like to be committed before the summer — what are some of the biggest factors he’s going to ultimately consider?

“I just want to look for the best opportunity for myself and for my family,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, people like Coach (Matthew) Forester and my family, they’ve brought me to this point. I want to make the best decision for me first, but I also want to play big-time college football and get a great education.

“A lot of things are gonna play into it, but that’s just something I’m gonna have to discuss with my parents. I haven’t thought deep enough about what it’s gonna be about, but I have an idea.”

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TCI Tour of Champions: 1-on-1 with top 2023 QB Christopher Vizzina

The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Briarwood Christian School (Birmingham, Ala.) – home to big-time Clemson quarterback target Christopher Vizzina, the No. 8 signal-caller in the country for the class of 2023 according …

The Clemson Insider’s Tour of Champions traveled on Wednesday to Briarwood Christian School (Birmingham, Ala.) — home to big-time Clemson quarterback target Christopher Vizzina, the No. 8 signal-caller in the country for the class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

TCI went in-depth with Vizzina on the Tigers, where his recruitment stands as we head into the spring, and more.

Check out TCI’s one-on-one interview with Vizzina below:

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Tour of Champions: TCI checks in with big time OL prospect set to visit this weekend

DORCHESTER, S.C. – On The Clemson Insider’s lastest stop on our annual Tour of Champions: Woodland High School. On the way to watch Clemson’s men’s basketball team in the Charleston Classic, it was imperative to stop and see an eventual five-star …

DORCHESTER, S.C. — On The Clemson Insider’s lastest stop on our annual Tour of Champions: Woodland High School.

On the way to watch Clemson’s men’s basketball team in the Charleston Classic, it was imperative to stop and see an eventual five-star prospect in Kam Pringle.

Pringle (6-7, 305) is a four-star offensive tackle in the class of 2024. He’s a prospect, who brings attitude and aggression, as well as some smartness and intelligence. He’s the complete package and someone that Clemson fans will certainly love to hear about.

“Really, the main message has been staying on track, getting ready for my recruitment by Clemson and just being ready when the offer comes,” he told TCI.

“With their [recruiting] policy, they don’t offer until your junior year, maybe in June I think,” Pringle added. “They’re definitely letting me know that they’re interested in me coming and playing football for them, potentially getting an offer.”

A lot of his recruitment has to be done through his head coach, Eddie Ford, because Pringle is only just a sophomore. The NCAA currently prohibits direct contact with sophomore prospects and college coaches, so a lot of what Pringle hears from offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and Clemson, it’s done through Ford.

“It’s really exciting to see him [be recruited] because I saw him when he was just that little snot nose seventh-grader running around,” Ford quipped. “But, he’s just gotten better and better. He’s got two older brothers, who pushed him along too. It’s been rewarding to see him work and earn what he’s getting because he’s done it the right way.”

Ford has been impressed with the way Clemson, specifically Caldwell, has approached Pringle’s recruitment.

“Coach Caldwell loves him,” Ford said. “He calls me once a week, he talks about Kam. It just doesn’t get any better. I mean, I like what they’re doing, in regards to keeping up on Kam and keeping tabs on him.”

Pringle, who was at Clemson this past summer, participating in the Dabo Swinney Camp, will make his return visit to The Valley this weekend. He’ll be in attendance for Clemson’s last home game of the season against Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s going to be my first game day in Death Valley, so definitely looking forward to it,” he said.

This won’t be Pringle’s first Clemson game of the season, though. He was in attendance for the Tigers’ season opener against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

“It was definitely crazy,” Pringle said. “Even though it wasn’t at Death Valley, there was a lot of Clemson fans there, a lot of Georgia fans too…it was definitely crazy.”

In addition to this weekend’s game in The Valley, Pringle has been on gameday visits to South Carolina and Virginia Tech. He currently holds offers from the University of Georgia, Arizona State, Duke, Florida, Florida State and Memphis, in addition to the two schools previously mentioned.

“It’s definitely been an enjoyable experience, having all these coaches want me to come to play at their school,” Pringle said when asked about his current recruitment. “It’s been a dream I’ve had for a long time. So, I’m just tryna make it come true.”

Beyond his recruitment, Pringle is obviously a special player on the field, but what is it that he brings to the table?

“I try to move around as much as possible,” he said. “I try to do things most 6-7 guys wouldn’t do, like running up the field, trying to get knockdown blocks and just trying to be nasty.”

“He’s a good kid man,” Ford added. “He’s what you want. He’s positive. He’s gonna do the right things. He’s gonna say the right things. He’s gonna be in the right place. He’s gonna do all the things that he needs to do.”

Ford didn’t want to even think about what Pringle’s ceiling could be. It’s extremely high but indicated that he’s someone who can play on Sundays and right now, he’s only just scratching the surface.

“He just gets better and better every year,” Ford said. “I mean massively better and better every year. As he’s getting strong and understanding what football is, just the technical things, staying low, using my hat hands. I mean, the sky is the limit for him.”

 

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