5-star Ross to Clemson

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PHENIX CITY, Ala. -- Add another notch to Clemson’s recruiting belt.

Phenix City (Ala.) Central five-star receiver Justyn Ross committed to the Tigers during a nationally televised announcement Wednesday afternoon, beating both Alabama and Auburn for their in-state target.

Ross (6-4, 195), ranked No. 15 nationally overall regardless of position by Rivals.com, gives Clemson a resounding five signees rated as their state’s top prospect.

While snatching the best from Georgia, Ohio, Florida and South Carolina were each profound in their own way, it’s tough to trump the historical significance behind prevailing in Alabama.

Only once in the last 15 years had the state’s top prospect spurned Alabama, with quarterback Jameis Winston picking FSU instead six years ago.

The Tide made a late push coming off their national championship run and felt they had momentum, with Nick Saban’s track record on guys he wants – see five-star corner Patrick Surtain today – speaking for itself.

But Clemson demonstrated its cachet on the national scale, becoming the first school in the Rivals.com era to land the No. 1s from four of those battleground states.

The Tigers also close with a program-record six five-stars in their class.

Ross’ addition almost certainly boosts Clemson’s class into a top-10 finish and the rare accomplishment of averaging higher than a 4.0 star rating per signee, the first occurrence in program history.

Clemson's recruiting class entered the day ranked third nationally in star rating average.

Tigerillustrated.com will have much more on Ross-to-Clemson later this afternoon.

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