Joseph poised for final visit and a decision

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon Jun 10 21:30:04 GMT-05:00 2013

Kendall Joseph Kendall Joseph
Linebacker
6-1, 230
Belton-Honea Path,
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The 5-11, 228-pound 3-star linebacker out of Belton (SC) Belton-Honea Path visited Clemson last Friday along with his parents, and stayed for four hours.

“I had both of my parents with me, and it was just a great visit,” Joseph told TigerNet. “We wanted to see all of the facilities and talk to the academic advisors and those types of people. I wanted to let my mom and dad see the campus and talk to the coaches and see what they are all about.”

Joseph said that learning more about Clemson’s academics was a priority for this visit – he wants to major in education.

“We talked to the academic advisors about they handle all of the academics, and that was a good talk,” he said. “Academics are very important to me – right now it’s 50-50 with football and academics as far as importance. If football doesn’t work out, then I will have a great education that I can rely on.”

Joseph followed up the academic tours with a visit of Clemson’s facilities, and then came 1-on-1 time with Clemson’s coaches.

“We met with Coach Dabo [Swinney] and we talked to him for about 40 minutes,” he said. “He told us about his program and the vision he has for Clemson and where he wants to take the program.”

Following the talk with Swinney was a visit with defensive coordinator Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
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“I spent the most time with Coach Venables,” he said. “He told me about his pedigree and how I would fit in with his defense at either the MIKE or the WILL. He showed us film of some of the linebackers he had at Oklahoma and the success those guys have had and what kind of program he wants here at Clemson.”

What does Joseph think about Venables’ defense and how he would fit in?

“I love it. It is the perfect defense for a linebacker,” he said. “He is not big on having the biggest guy or the strongest guy – he is just big on having good football people that understand the game. I think I can be successful in his scheme.”

Joseph will visit Duke this Friday and Saturday.

“I am going to spend the night there,” he said. “I am going to look at the dorms and spend some time with a lot of other people that they are recruiting and see what they are about. Hopefully I can spend time with the coaches and get to know them a little better, too.”

Joseph said he will sit down his family on June 16th and make his final decision and will announce on June 17th.

“It’s down to Clemson, Duke and Louisville,” he said. “Those are my top three choices, and it will be one of those. I am just going to pick the school that is the perfect fit for me.”

As a junior, Joseph had 129 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, two sacks, two blocked kicks and 13 quarterback hurries for the Bears. On offense, he rushed 17 times for 132 yards for a 7.7 yards per carry average and five touchdowns

As a sophomore, Joseph recorded 115 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six passes broken up.