Top five back commits to Clemson
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The Clemson Tigers are again making a strong case for another top five recruiting class after landing another elite prospect on Sunday when Memphis (Tenn.) Trezevant's Cordarrian Richardson opted to end his recruiting fresh off his first-ever campus visit in conjunction with the coaching staff's second Junior Day event of 2016.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pounder is rated fifth nationally among running back prospects according to Rivals.com, fourth overall regardless of position in the state of Tennessee and 90th overall regardless of position nationally as a member of the prestigious Rivals100.
Richardson picked Clemson over offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Auburn and many others.
As a junior, he rushed for 2,390 yards and 12 touchdowns on 258 carries (9.3 average). He gained a state-title record 342 yards in Trezevant's 2A championship victory against Macon County.
Richardson now marks the sixth junior commitment for the Tigers with at least a four-star rating, joining five-star QB and class headliner Hunter Johnson of Brownsburg (Ind.), four-star (OL) Matt Bockhorst of Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier, four-star (QB) Chase Brice of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, four-star (DB) LeAnthony Williams of Roswell (Ga.) and four-star (WR) Amari Rodgers of Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic.
The Tigers also have pledges from highly regarded (OL) Noah DeHond of Hightstown (NJ) and (OL) Blake Vinson of Citra (Fla), as well as legacy (DB/LB) Baylon Spector of Calhoun (Ga).
Should Clemson close with a top five recruiting class for the third consecutive year next February, it will mark the first time that has happened in program history. Last month Clemson signed the nation's No. 5 recruiting class after finishing No. 4 nationally in 2015. It marked just the second time Clemson had accomplished that feat in recruiting since the 1988, 1989 classes, the final two signing classes under then head coach Danny Ford.
Tigerillustrated.com will have more on Richardson's commitment later today.
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