THE WEST ZONE message board | SHOP NOW: DEALS on CLEMSON apparel
1. While Clemson's staff largely moves to wrap up its summer recruiting efforts before preseason practices kick off, history has shown the Tigers have tended to pick up someone once August camp arrives.
In the Dabo Swinney era, August has been the sixth-best month for commitments behind the predictable leaders: February, June, January, July and May.
This year’s first straggler was Virginia Beach (Va.) Cox four-star defensive end Jordan Williams, who announced his commitment in a ceremony Saturday evening.
Williams (6-4, 260), ranked No. 156 nationally by Rivals.com, picked the Tigers over the two in-state schools (Virginia and Virginia Tech) as well as Tennessee, in about that order.
Truth be told, he had tried to commit as early as mid-June. The first hold-up was he intended to follow through on a final scheduled visit to Virginia in mid-June, and that wouldn’t fly if he wanted to be considered a commitment.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, his area recruiter, wanted Williams to pledge to Dabo Swinney in person.
Williams already planned to be at the “All-In Cookout” in mid-July, so the wheels were in motion. So he knew his intent before his participation at “The Opening.”
As you can surmise, the events of the Cookout visit – particularly what he and his parents heard from the academic administrators – affirmed his plans.
Williams wore a Clemson T-shirt to the Rivals Camp Series competition in Charlotte, N.C., in April, but the Tigers were merely among the handful of candidates at that time. From the Clemson side, Williams was thought to be a potentially tough get.
We can tell you a phone conversation with Venables around early June swayed momentum definitively in Clemson’s favor.
Let’s repeat it again: When Venables sinks his teeth into a priority target for which he is the leader, Tigers fans have reason to like their chances. Look no further than the two freshmen defensive sensations of this month’s camp already: cornerback Trayvon Mullen and defensive end Xavier Kelly.
2. Williams’ addition elevated Clemson five spots in the Rivals.com team rankings, up to No. 12 and just ahead of Florida State – which likewise owns a dozen commitments. Only one team ranked higher carries less than 16 pledges (No. 6 Georgia with 14).
With no more than a handful of scholarship spots left, we’ve maintained this Clemson class would stand to be defined more by quality than quantity.
The Tigers are now tied for the fourth-highest per-prospect average star ranking in the country. Their 3.75 per-prospect average is even with FSU and trails only No. 2 Ohio State (4.0), No. 1 Alabama (3.81) and No. 6 Georgia (3.79).
By comparison, here is Clemson's per-signee average for the rest of the classes this decade (with where it ranked nationally):
2016: 3.59 (8)
2015: 3.61 (7)
2014: 3.32 (17)
2013: 3.30 (19)
2012: 3.45 (13)
2011: 3.34 (16)
2010: 3.35 (16)
When a Clemson source told us months ago to just sit back and marvel at how the class takes shape, this is what he clearly meant.
“To be honest, (our success) makes it a little harder because now you have so many decisions to make,” co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said last week. “You have so many good players reaching out who have interest in Clemson. So we have to do an even better job with our evaluations to make sure not only are we getting the best player, but the best player that’s a fit for Clemson and the culture and everything we have to offer.”
3. Of course, the Tigers aren’t done yet.
A high-four visitor long in Clemson’s wheelhouse stopped by campus again Sunday.
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic inside linebacker Drew Singleton made his long-anticipated summer swing by several southern schools, hitting Auburn on Friday and Alabama on Saturday before traveling to Clemson on Sunday.
Singleton (6-2, 215), ranked No. 39 in the country, released a top 12 a little more than a week ago. The dozen featured Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, California, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Rutgers and Penn State.
He is believed to have made more visits to Clemson than any other suitor, and lest we remind that Venables is his lead recruiter.
Michigan looms because of all its connections, and that cannot be discounted. But we continue to like the Tigers’ chances here, even if there remains some work to be done.
