Venables makes sure Tre Lamar knows he is still wanted by the Tigers

Lamar has already made several trips to Clemson

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Sun Apr 26 08:01:02 GMT-04:00 2015

Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Def. Coordinator / Linebackers
View Full Profile already has two linebackers committed for the 2016 recruiting cycle, but he made a stop in Georgia Friday to make sure Tre LamarTre Lamar
Linebacker
6-3, 230
Roswell, GA
ESPN:
View Full Profile knows he's still a wanted man.

With commitments from 5-star Rahshaun SmithRahshaun Smith
Linebacker
6-3, 230
Towson, MD
ESPN:
View Full Profile (Bradenton (FL) IMG) and 3-star Jamie SkalskiJamie Skalski
Linebacker
6-1, 225
Newnan, GA
ESPN:
View Full Profile (Newnan (GA) Northgate, Lamar (6-3, 240) might be the final piece to the puzzle at the linebacker position for Clemson's 2016 class.

Venables - Clemson's fourth year defensive coordinator - has been in constant contact with Lamar and stopped by school last week just to convey how important the 4-star Roswell (GA) linebacker is to Clemson.

"We talked on the phone Friday. He was really talking to me about getting up there for their cookout that they do at the end of June," Lamar told TigerNet Saturday evening. "He was talking to me about the defense and telling me how he's got almost all of the pieces that he wants with the linebackers that he's recruiting in this class and the two that he's got now. He's just been really talking to me about how I fit in and how he wants me to get back up there for see what Clemson's about."

One of the main points that Venables has tried to convey is that there will be no overlapping between Clemson's two current commits at the linebacker spot and Lamar should he choose Clemson.

"I wouldn't say that it [Smith's commitment to Clemson] has affected my decision," Lamar said. "I want to go wherever I feel most comfortable and wherever is the best spot for me and I could do my best. When Coach Venables was talking to me, he was saying that I would play inside, so I'm not worried about overlapping with any of the other Clemson linebacker commits"

Lamar has narrowed down his list of over 30 offers to a top five and is in the process of taking visits to those five schools to prepare for a fall decision.

"My top five right now is Clemson, Auburn, Alabama, Florida and Florida State in no particular order, so I've just been trying to take visits to all of those schools to try to narrow it down little by little," he said. "Right now, a lot of the coaches have come to the school. The last one who came through was Coach Venables."

On top of his visits to those schools, traffic from coaches is also beginning to pick up now that the spring evaluation period is in effect.

"Georgia came by. A couple of places like N.C. State came by and talked to my coach. I talked with Auburn," he said. "They haven't come by but I talk with them on the phone. Georgia and Clemson are the ones that have come by my school."

What is it that has kept Clemson in Lamar's top five throughout his recruitment?

"They have a great defense. They were number one last year," he said. "They have a great defensive coordinator in Coach Venables and great assistant coaches. It feels comfortable when I go up there. The academic support that they provide is great and that's what I really look into on these last visits. It's really good up there."

Lamar said that his next visit to Clemson will probably be for the All In Cookout later this summer.