You’ve got recruiting questions and we have the answers.
Welcome to All Clemson’s 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.
Kevin: With the way Clemson recruits running backs, do you have a good idea who will be next in line for an offer if we do not get our top guy in 2024? And who are you starting to hear about in 2025?
TJ: David Eziomume come to Clemson! I’m guessing there are no new updates on him?
As of now, David Eziomume (N. Cobb, Ga) is the only back in the 2024 class to have an offer from Clemson. He is THE guy. One of the nation's top all purpose backs, Eziomume now claims more than 30 offers, with Florida State, being one of the most recent to pull the trigger. However, despite all the interest, Eziomume only visited two schools in January, Clemson and Georgia Tech, with the Yellow Jackets getting two visits.
Eziomume attended Clemson's Elite Junior Day and he told me he came away more than impressed.
"It’s very special," Eziomume told All Clemson. "And I feel like a lot of guys go down there for special reasons because they understand Clemson holds a future for you, a career.”
Right now, there is nothing really new to report. This looks to be coming down to Clemson and Georgia Tech, with proximity to home playing a huge role. Having said that, the staff is only going to be willing to wait so long. At a certain point, if he isn't ready to make a decision, the staff will have to expand the board. I think that point will come at some point early on in the spring.
Eziomume told me he wanted to get back to Clemson sometime in March and bring his mother, as she has yet to visit the school. Personally, I am not sure this thing drags on much longer that that, regardless of how it plays out.
"I really want to make a decision soon," Eziomume said. "I don’t want to be the only kid that waits when I know where home is.”
If the Tigers do decide to expand the board for whatever reason, it's hard to know who might get the next offer. Kevin Riley (Tuscaloosa, County, Northport Al) is a guy that got a school visit from CJ Spiller in December. Riley has close to two dozen offers already, with schools like Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Georgia having already offered.
As for 2025, there is just no way to know at this point. The Clemson coaching staff has a very methodical approach when it comes to recruiting running backs. It was last November before they even handed out the first 2024 offer to Eziomume.
Keegan: Has Garrett Riley been in touch with Jadyn Davis? And if so any news to report?
Robbie: Any possible updates on quarterback targets for the 2024 class?
Personally, I think the coaching staff will sit tight and do some evaluating before handing out the next offer to a 2024 quarterback. It might be March or even later before the next one goes out.
Obviously, the staff is still recruiting Jadyn Davis. That includes Garrett Riley, who made a stop by his school after being hired. But they aren't gaining much more traction than they had before Riley came on board. Michigan is considered the team to beat with Ohio State and North Carolina also making a push.
One name to keep an eye on is Jake Merklinger (Calvary Day, Savannah, Ga). Merklinger worked out at Dabo Swinney's high school camp last summer and visited during the season but has yet to pick up an offer. As thing stands, it might be a little too late even if the staff offered him tomorrow.
Wanna ask a recruiting question, shoot us an email a jp@clemsonmaven.io or shoot us a DM on Twitter.
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