Riley Scruggs is no stranger to Clemson football.
The 2024 in-state QB, out of Dorman, grew up in the Upstate, although he has spent some time living in Georgia, as well. However, through it all, he has remained a diehard Clemson fan.
Scruggs has been a regular participant at Dabo Swinney's high school camps over the years. Last summer he was one of the more impressive quarterbacks to attend. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound signal caller returned to Clemson in early October, attending the Tigers' win over Wake Forest.
"I ended up spending the night in Clemson after my game," Scruggs told All Clemson Tigers. "I got up to the facility and all the coaches were there. It was fun. Talked with Tajh (Boyd), talked with coach Stoudt, coach Spiller and talked to coach Riley after the game in the locker room. I mean, it was fun."
While Scruggs is a familar face to most on the Clemson coaching staff, his relationship with Boyd is unique and goes way back.
“I met Tajh when I was in fourth grade,” Scruggs said. “I’ve been back and forth between South Carolina and Georgia, so I was living in Fountain Inn and I was playing rec ball. Then at a park one day we’re having practice and Tajh Boyd came up and he just started working with me. So, I’ve known him since fourth grade. Every time I go to Clemson we just reconnect.”
Another connection Scruggs has to Clemson is through current 2024 RB commit David Eziomume. The two met while visiting for the Syracuse game last season and hit it off instantly.
"That's one of my best friends," Scruggs said. "We were sitting next to each other and we just started talking and we ended up becoming really close. He is awesome. That is my guy."
In fact, Scruggs was supposed to attend the Wake Forest game with Eziomume. However, at the last minute, Eziomume was unable to make it to town.
"We were supposed to be going to the (Wake Forest) game together, but he called me and told me he wasn't going to be able to make it."
With two former 5-star quarterbacks in Cade Klubnik and Chris Vizzina already on the roster, both of who are underclassmen, and 4-star Blake Hebert already committed for 2025, Scruggs knows the Tigers are not looking to take a player at the position in the current recruiting class.
However, Scruggs is more than willing to go the preferred walk on route and earn a scholarship that way.
"It would mean a lot just to have the opportunity to go in there and earn a scholarship. It would mean a lot."
In fact, it is something he has not only thought long and hard about, he has also spent time talking about the option with the staff.
"Me and Tajh Boyd talked about this too, and I told him, even if other schools do offer full scholarships, I could not see myself going anywhere else," Scruggs said. "Growing up a Clemson fan, I couldn't see myself wearing anything but orange and purple on Saturdays."
For Scruggs, running down that hill and wearing that Clemson jersey, that's what it's all about.
"That's the dream right there," Scruggs said. "Scholarship or not, you still get to run down that hill. That's really what it is all about. Having your last name on that uniform, that is the dream itself."
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