Monday December 15, 2008

Recruiting Notes

Recruiting Notes
Clemson football recruiting news has been about like my exercise routine lately---non-existent.

The results of the Alabama blow out and the fallout from a mid-season coaching change were slow times on the recruiting trail. Clemson was a very hot name in the summer but things obviously cooled off with the changes in the program.

As the interim head coach, Dabo and his staff concentrated on the season and keeping this team together. They were still recruiting but what could they really tell prospects when they called? There was so much uncertainty in the program and prospects knew it.

Since removing the interim tag the Tiger staff has a few less unknowns and recruiting has become a bigger priority. We still don’t know who will be on the new staff but some pieces of the puzzle are starting to come into place.

This weekend was the first recruiting weekend since Dabo was named the head coach and early returns indicate a very positive weekend for the staff.

Last Wednesday through Friday J.K. Jay (6-6, 275) of Christ Church in Greenville took his official visit. Jay is the state’s top offensive lineman this year and has been committed to the Tigers since his junior season. Jay had a ton of offers from schools like Georgia, Miami, North Carolina and South Carolina. He missed most of his junior season with a leg injury but played well as a senior and will play in this weekends’ Shrine Bowl. Jay will enroll at Clemson in January and participate in spring practice.

Jonathan Meeks (6-2, 185) of Hargrave Military in Chatham, VA committed to the Tigers on his official visit this weekend. The safety prospect is originally from Rock Hill, SC. He had offers from Florida, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, NC State, North Carolina and South Carolina. Meeks’ other official visits were to NC State and North Carolina. Like Jay, he will also enroll at Clemson in January.

Meek’s prep school teammate Leon Mackey (6-6, 260) also took an official visit to Tigertown this weekend. Mackey is a defensive lineman that also has offers from Virginia Tech, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina and NC State. He has already tripped to Arkansas and NC State and will take an official visit to Virginia Tech this weekend. Mackey was impressed on his Clemson visit and it appears he will decide between Clemson and Virginia Tech.

A third Hargrave Military Academy prospect tripped to Clemson this weekend. Highly regarded running back Onterrio McCalleb (6-0, 175) was in town as well. McCalleb signed with Auburn last year but did not qualify. He re-committed to Auburn this summer. The Auburn Tigers had a coaching change as well and this has helped Clemson’s chances for this star back. McCalleb says he will decide this week if he wants to be an Auburn Tiger or a Clemson Tiger.

The fifth prospect in town this weekend was wide receiver Bryce McNeal (6-2, 170) of Minneapolis, MN. McNeal is a former Michigan commitment but he has taken official visits to Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado and Clemson. He will announce on January 3 and says Clemson is in his top three at this point.

Meeks was the ninth commitment in a class that should include about 20 new Tigers.

The recruiting board is still coming together here is a look at some of the top prospects still on the board at each offensive position:

Quarterback
We do not see Clemson signing a quarterback in this class at this point. Someone may emerge later but at this point quarterback is not a priority on this class.

Running Back
The Tigers would like to sign two running backs in this class. Roderick McDowell(5-10,175) of Sumter has been committed since the summer.He is the top back in South Carolina this season. McCalleb is down to Clemson and Auburn with a decision coming fairly soon. Bryce Brown (6-0, 215) of Wichita, KS is the nation’s top back and he has taken an official visit to Clemson but the Tigers are a long shot here.

Wide Receiver
Clemson would like to sign at least two wide outs in this class. If they could get McNeal they could be very selective with the rest of the class.

Larry Raper (5-10, 170) of Shelby is a former Clemson commitment that is still considering the Tigers along with South Carolina, North Carolina and NC State. All schools are still deciding on how hard they are recruiting Raper.

Kendall Kelly (6-4, 210) of Gadsden, AL has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Southern Cal, Texas, LSU, Florida State and several others. Clemson will get an official visit from Kelly in January.

Rodney Smith (6-6, 210) of Miami, FL has been committed to Florida State since the summer but Clemson is fighting to get a January official visit.

Jheranie Boyd (6-2, 185) Gastonia, NC is a North Carolina commit and Jamal Patterson (6-2, 195) of McDonough, GA is a Stanford commit that the Clemson staff continues to work.

Tight Ends
Clemson may sign a tight end in this class but it is not a huge priority. Tyler Shatley (6-3, 255) of Connellys Springs, NC is listed by some as an athlete because he can play tight end, full back, H-back, guard or defensive line at the next level. Shatley is a hard-nosed prospect that will add toughness to either side of the football.

Terrell Mitchell (6-6, 220) of Powder Springs, GA has a January 9 official visit to Clemson. He has also been to Kentucky and will take a trip to Georgia later in January.

Offensive Line
This may be the strength of the class to this point. J.K. Jay is the state’s top offensive line prospect unless fellow Clemson commitment Brandon Thomas (6-4, 285) of Spartanburg, SC takes that honor.

Thomas is a terrific athlete that played tight end at Dorman last season. He has excellent feet but is coming off of ACL injury that will keep him out until the summer.

Clemson would like to sign one more offensive lineman in this class and is aiming high with players like Bobby Massie (6-8, 335) of Hargrave Military and Quentin Washington (6-3, 315) of St. Stephens, SC.

Tomorrow we will take a look at some of the top defensive prospects on the Tigers recruiting board.

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