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.
Juan: How are we looking at wide receiver and running backs and offensive linemen?
A lot to unpack here. Let’s start at receiver. The number right now is two, although I can see a scenario in which that gets to three. Alex Taylor (Grimsley, NC) and Jonathan Paylor (Cummings, Burlington, NC) were the first to pick up offers and both are expected to take official visits the first weekend in June. Paylor might even take a spring visit.
In-state wideout Braylon Staley (Aiken) has since picked up an offer, as has TJ Moore (Tampa Catholic, Fl). Staley’s recruitment is really starting to take off, so we are probably still a ways from the finish line. It’s hard not to like where Clemson stands, but let’s see where we are come the summer.
Of those four, right now, I think Clemson is in the best shape with Taylor and Staley.
At running back, David Eziomume (N. Cobb, Ga) is the lone target. He picked up his offer late last year and the Tigers have been all in on him since. He was on hand for Elite Junior Day back in January and will announce on March 1.
As for offensive line, the number is four. The Tigers are still waiting on a decision from in-state prospect Blake Franks (Greenville). This has come down to a Clemson and South Carolina battle, with the Gamecocks seemingly holding the edge. He is set to make a decision at some point in March, and the Tigers are hoping to get him back to campus before he renders his verdict.
Another in-state OL, Josiah Thompson (Dillon), who has long been considered a strong South Carolina lean, is also on the radar. Thompson was on hand for Elite Junior Day and has been invited to the official visit weekend in June. We will see if he is still uncommitted at that time. Not sure he will be.
Jameson Riggs (Hiram, Ga) is one of the guys at the top of the board. Riggs is expected to return to campus at some point in the spring after visiting for Elite Junior Day. Auburn, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, LSU and Ohio State could also get spring visits.
Fletcher Westphal (Tuscarora, Leesville, Va), is another priority target and has told me he will visit on April 5.
Two new offensive line offers just recently went out to Eagan Boyer (William Amos Hough, Cornelius, N.C.) and Jac’Qawn McRoy (Pinson, Al), so the board is already starting to expand, and I think we see more offers extended as we get into the spring and early summer.
ToGigers64: Was Nick Eason’s class of 2023 a one-hit-wonder recruiting wise or do we have reason to expect elite DL classes in the future?
Seeing as the Tigers already have Champ Thompson (Meadowcreek, Norcross, Ga) already on board in the 2024 class and are favored to land Hevin Brown-Shuler (Pace, Atlanta, Ga), I think it is safe to assume what Eason did in 2023 was not a fluke. I would expect more of the same moving forward.
Don’t let the recruiting rankings fool you. Thompson might not be some high 5-star prospect, but he is extremely talented. Alabama, Florida State and Georgia all wanted him. As for Brown-Shuler, he is one of the top defensive linemen in the class and a Top 100 talent regardless of position.
Eason looks to be well on his way to knocking it out of the park again in 2024.
Curtis: Uhh…. I’m sad I haven’t seen the new shades yet.
Ask and you shall receive….
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