Clemson coaches host first big recruiting weekend of 2016

LaSamuel Davis will be back on campus

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Fri Jan 15 12:20:55 GMT-05:00 2016

With the 2015 season in the books, the Clemson coaching staff turns its attention to rebuilding – or reloading – for next year and the years beyond.

As National Signing Day quickly approaches the coaches are on the road recruiting and will be hosting official visits in the coming weeks.

The first weekend for official visitors is this weekend and it will be the largest in a series of three weeks. Keeping with tradition, the official visitors will participate in activities on campus but will also attend Saturday’s basketball game against Miami.

Clemson’s staff will focus on attracting defensive back talent with Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green all declaring for the NFL Draft, which brings us to the headliner of the weekend – 4-star cornerback Trayvon Mullen.

The Coconut Creek (FL) corner owns over 40 offers from all over the country and Clemson was his dream offer when the Tigers offered, but the 6-2, 175-pounder hasn’t made it to campus since.

Mullen announced his five finalists as Florida State, LSU, Clemson, Louisville and TCU, but sentiment holds that Seminoles and LSU Tigers are the teams to beat. He has already taken official visits to Florida State, TCU and Louisville. Clemson will get its opportunity this weekend and LSU will round out his official visit next weekend.

Will the opportunity to replace Mackensie Alexander and play right away be enough to swing Mullen in Clemson’s favor?

The other uncommitted prospect is 4-star defensive tackle Michail Carter who announced his intent to take an official visit to Clemson at last month’s Under Armour All America Game.

Clemson will be the first stop for the 6-3, 302-pound defensive lineman, who owns 10 ACC and SEC offers. Carter will visit Georgia Tech next weekend and Georgia will receive the final official visit. He also plans to visit Alabama and Auburn at some point before signing day.

This weekend will also serve as official visits for the remainder of Clemson’s 2016 commits who didn’t enroll in January: J.C. Chalk, 3-star Argyle (TX) tight end, T.J. Chase, 4-star Plant City (FL) Plant wide receiver, Zerrick Cooper, 4-star Jonesboro (GA) quarterback, Tavien Feaster, 5-star Spartanburg (SC) running back, Xavier Kelly, 4-star Wichita (KS) East defensive end, Diondre Overton, 4-star Greensboro (NC) Page wide receiver, Cornell Powell, 4-star Greenville (NC) Rose, Chandler Reeves, 3-star McDonough (GA) Eagle’s Landing offensive lineman and Jamie Skalski, 3-star Newnan (GA) Northgate linebacker.

An additional committed prospect is St. Matthews (SC) Calhoun Academy punter Will Spiers, who will also be an official visitor this weekend. The son of Bill Spiers, who played baseball and football at Clemson, has accepted an opportunity as a preferred walk-on.

Clemson has seven midyear enrollees, including Bamberg (SC) defensive end LaSamuel Davis, who will be heavily involved in this weekend’s recruiting activities.

The other 2016 class members who decided to enroll in January and are currently on campus are Tremayne Anchrum, Jr., 3-star Powder Springs (GA) McEachern offensive lineman, Tre Lamar, 4-star Roswell (GA) linebacker, Dexter Lawrence, 5-star Wake Forest (NC) defensive tackle, Nyles Pinckney, 4-star Seabrook (SC) Whale Branch defensive tackle, Sean Pollard, 4-star Southern Pines (NC) Pinecrest offensive lineman and Rahshaun Smith, 5-star Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy linebacker.