You’ve got recruiting questions and we have the answers.
Welcome to the All Clemson Tigers’ recruiting mailbag, where we will answer your recruiting questions. Or we will at least attempt to do so, as recruiting is a world with many moving parts and an ever-changing landscape where circumstances can often change in a flash.
With that in mind, let’s dive in.
Mike: Who is the staff looking at DE if they miss on Eddrick Houston? And are they done at LB?
Jb405: Does the take of Adam Kissayi mean Eddrick Houston goes elsewhere?
The staff's decision to take Adam Kissayi had nothing to do with where Eddrick Houston may or may not be heading. Kissayi is a guy that has worked out for the staff at camp the past two summers, and they are extremely high on his potential. He has a lot of length and he is athletic. At the same time, he is also a little raw and will likely need some time to develop once he arrives.
As for Houston, it is unlikely that he ends up a part of this class. He has been trending in the opposite direction for weeks. Assuming he goes elsewhere, that means the Tigers still need another defensive end in this class. It's a spot that might not be filled until later in the cycle, though. 4-star Solomon Williams (Carrollwood Day, Tampa) has an offer and could take an official visit during the season.
3-star Elias Williams is another name worth watching. Williams doesn't have an offer, but he visited for the spring game. I touched base with him recently and he said he was still in communication with the Wes Goodwin and Lemanksi Hall and could visit this fall.
The dismissal of TJ Dudley also means the staff will certainly try and add another LB to this class, even with 5-star Sammy Brown and 3-star Drew Woodaz already on board. 3-star Wyatt Simmons (Harding Academy, Searcy, Al) is the name to know at this point. He was at the big official visit weekend but his recruitment has been very low-key, so he is hard to get a good read on, and there is no timeline for a decision. Auburn is probably the biggest competition.
Scott: What's left for Clemson in the 2024 class? That they're in the running for?
While most of the class is locked up, there is still a little work to be done. Most notably, along the offensive line. 3-star Ronan O' Connell is the only OL the Tigers currently have a commitment from, and ideally, they would like to add two more to the class. Right now, the only new uncommitted target with an offer is 4-star Elyjah Thurmon (Bradwell Institute, Hinesville, Ga). He picked up an offer last week. It doesn't sound like he will be at the cookout this weekend, so we will see if they can get him in for a visit in the fall.
3-star Favour Edwin (Eagles Landing, McDonough, Ga) is another name worth keeping an eye on. He doesn't have an offer from Clemson but did work out at camp back in June. He also worked out at Alabama's camp and picked up an offer from the Tide. Edwin goes to the same high school that freshman Zechariah Owens attended, but he is new to organized football. He was born in Nigeria and only moved the U.S. two years ago, with an eye on playing basketball. I imagine the staff waits to see what he does on the field in some games this season before deciding whether to officially offer.
I also think it is possible we see one more WR added. That might just depend on whether or not the staff finds someone they really like. With 5-star Bryant Wesco and 4-star TJ Moore already committed, I think it would have to be a slot-type guy. Having said that, if they end up with just the two, those are two very dynamic wideouts, and it would still be a great haul at the position.
On the other side of the ball, I touched on the needs at DE and LB in my response to the first question. Outside of those areas, I think Clemson is done. Having said that, there is always the possibility of some unexpected attrition during the season, which could change things.
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