The recruiting landscape has changed drastically over the past few years.
The advent of NIL, the portal and unlimited transfers have forever changed the sport of college football. Tampering is running rampant, meaning coaches across the country face all kinds of headaches when it comes to recruiting a roster and then trying to keep it intact.
The recruiting side of the sport has always been a cutthroat business, and pay-for-play has only amplified things. These days, a commitment doesn't necessarily mean what it did a decade ago.
Clemson has already seen one decommitment in this class, when 4-star Jaylan Beckley reopened his recruitment back in early March. Now there has been chatter of 4-star OL Brayden Jacobs (Buford, Alpharetta, Ga) taking an official visit to LSU in June, and possibly Alabama.
Obviously, if Jacobs were planning to take an official to any other school, that would require him decommitting from Clemson. Dabo Swinney does not allow committed players to take officials elsewhere.
However, some of this chatter might be premature. I touched base with Jacobs on Tuesday and he told me in no uncertain terms that outside of the Clemson official visit weekend that begins on May 31, he has made no other travel plans for this summer.
Jacobs committed back in January at the Elite Retreat. He visited Clemson more than he did any other school. He was back on campus just over two weeks ago for the spring game. By all appearances, things appear to be on solid footing here.
The 6-foot-7, 310-pound recruit is a Top 200 talent and one of the better tackle prospects in the class. He's been killing it at some of these camps he has been competing in of late. He earned OL MVP honors at the Polynesian Bowl Showcase Combine in late March. That is going to draw attention, meaning teams are going to continue to recruit and come after him. The Clemson coaching staff knows that. As is the case with any other highly-coveted prospect, Swinney, along with Matt Luke, will have to continue to fend off the sharks, so to speak.
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