In-State RB Tre Leonard Has Unique Connection to Clemson

Being an in-state prospect, Tre Leonard is fairly familiar with the Clemson football program.

However, despite growing up in the state, the 2025 3-star running back out of West Florence had never been to campus until he took an unofficial visit recently.

"I didn't realize the campus and the football facilities were going to be so big, but they were huge," Leonard told All Clemson Tigers. "The weight room was massive."

The rising junior is one of the top players in the state in the 2025 class after rushing for more than 1,200 yards last season. He has been on Clemson's radar for a little while now, and after finally getting to campus, he appreciates how transparent the coaches are.

"I didn't feel like any lies were told," Leonard said. "Everyone was really straightforward about everything from processing. And all the coaches seem real down to earth."

Outside of Clemson, the West Florence standout is also hearing from South Carolina and Rutgers on a regular basis. He plans to return to Clemson in May for Dabo Swinney's high school camp and is hopeful that a future offer is in the cards.

"That would mean everything. It would mean a lot to me, considering that they offer so few guys," Leonard said. "That'd be huge. It was always one of the schools I wanted to go to when I was younger."

When it comes to the heated rivalry between Clemson and South Carolina, Leonard never really picked a side. Although, after he started training under former Clemson standout Anthony Waters, he admittedly started to lean a little towards the Tigers.

"I really didn't root for anyone because my family is from Pennsylvania," Leonard said. "So we didn't pick sides between Carolina and Clemson but I rooted for Clemson because my trainer went to Clemson."

His connection to Waters also gave him a tie to running backs coach C.J. Spiller that he only recently discovered.

"He was a great running back at Clemson," Leonard said. "My trainer, Anthony Waters, I didn't know this, but he told me maybe two or three weeks ago that he toured C.J. Spiller back when C.J. Spiller had a visit to Clemson. So I felt that connection while I was there. I called my trainer my and my trainer talked to him for a little bit. So we had a connection."

Leonard plans to camp at Ohio State and Cincinnati and hopes to have a decision made sometime before the start of his senior season. Until then, he is searching for the school that will not only develop him as a player, but one that will also develop him off the field.

"Before all of the offers start coming in, I want to have the connection with a coach," Leonard said. "That's really what I'm looking for, who loves me first. Of course, I want to be developed as a player, developed as a human being, it's not just all about football. I want to go to a school that cares about my academics. Those are the most important things to me."

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