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.
Neal: I thought we were only going to take one WR this year. I read there were numerous WRs coming in for visits. Also I think our LB numbers are down. If Carter and Trotter leave after this year we could be hurting there.
The number for wide receiver in the 2024 class is two. At least, right now. Those kind of things are always fluid and as quickly as players enter the transfer portal in today's game, I can easily see that number getting to three before it is all said and done.
Clemson currently has offers out to five receivers. Alex Taylor and Jonathan Paylor picked up the first two last summer and Ryan Wingo, Braylon Staley and TJ Moore have all picked up offers since. Clemson also hosted Amari Jefferson over the weekend during its second Junior Day of the year, but they have yet to pull the trigger on an offer. All are 4-star players, outside of Wingo, who is a 5-star.
Taylor, Paylor and Staley are all expected to visit for the big official visit weekend in June. Taylor has told me that he plans to definitely visit at some point this spring, as well, and it would not be surprising to see Paylor and Staley both do the same.
As for the linebackers, the number there is also two, and there are three offers out. Yes, both Trotter and Carter could both potentially leave after the season, but there is no way to know that at this point. No one else is scheduled to come off the books after 2023.
5-star Sammy Brown and 4-star Drew Woodaz picked up the first two offers. Brown was actually the first player in the 2024 class to pick up a Clemson offer. Both are expected to take official visits that first weekend in June.
4-star Joseph Phillips visited for Junior Day this weekend and left town with an offer, but Auburn has long been considered the favorite.
Brown is arguably the top linebacker in the class, and if you do lose one of those guys, he is capable of coming in and making an immediate impact. Woodaz is thought to be a little more polished coming out of high school than older brother Wade, who has already proven he was ready to contribute as a freshman.
Jason: What you thinking now on Air Noland? We got a decent chance after his visit? Or where do you think we stand with him?
The 4-star quarterback made it to campus this weekend for Junior Day and left with an offer. He is THE guy at the position moving forward. Clemson absolutely did enough to become a legitimate contender, and while Noland insists he will make a decision in April, there is still a lot of life left in this recruitment.
Noland fits very well in what Garrett Riley likes to do on offense. In fact, some of the things Riley likes to do are similar to the offense Noland runs in high school. I was told the culture also resonated greatly with both him and his mother, and obviously that is important.
He was invited back for the official visit weekend in June but if he commits next month, then that visit would only happen if he was committed. Maybe the staff can get him back to campus one more time before the end of spring, but if not, that doesn't mean the Tigers can't win out in this thing.
All that to say, that the staff did what needed to be done on this visit. They're in it. Now, he will make stops at Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Arkansas. Let's see where we are three to four weeks from now.
Wanna ask a recruiting question, shoot us an email a jp@clemsonmaven.io or shoot us a DM on Twitter.
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