2026 4-star CB Shavar Young commits to Clemson: 'Clemson is what I am looking for in a school'

Over 30 schools have offered Shavar Young, and the four-star cornerback out of Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb School thought he would commit in December on his birthday, but after a visit to Clemson on Wednesday, he saw no reason to wait.

“I got that feeling about Clemson on the visit,” Young told On3. “Once I got that feeling, I decided to go ahead and commit. I have visited Clemson around six times and it is different. Clemson offering me meant a lot. They don’t offer a lot of guys, so their offer carries weight and it means something.

“How they do things is different. They offered me late in the spring, they showed me I was one of their top guys and they have always been high on my list. Clemson has that family atmosphere, they set you up for life after football and they have a great coaching staff. The visit this week showed me Clemson was the right place for me.”

Young had numerous top programs in pursuit. Kentucky, Notre Dame and Oregon were three recruiting him the hardest, but that feeling he had at Clemson couldn’t be matched.

“It is always that family feeling up there at Clemson for me. There is something at Clemson that just fits me. It reminds me of my high school. It is a big family there. Coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson coaches care for their players. They look out for their players, they set you up for the future and Clemson is what I am looking for in a school.”

Young is Clemson’s second commitment for the 2026 class. He joins four-star quarterback Tait Reynolds.

The visit to Clemson sealed the deal for Young

Clemson was already high on Young’s list leading into the visit on Wednesday. He had no plan of committing though. Spending time with coach Swinney and Mike Reed gave him a different feeling though.

“The more I talked with them and learning more about how the program operates, it was just the fit for me,” Young said. “The people at Clemson make it feel like home. I learned more about the coaches, the school and just how things are there on this visit and that helped me make my decision.”

Toward the end of the visit, Young knew. The No. 245 prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking gave the staff his commitment.

“It was really an easy decision. I felt good about it. My family felt good about it. It was the right fit for me. Clemson sets their guys up for a bright future.”

Clemson has had success in Tennessee before. Tee Higgins and Amari Rogers came from the same state as Young and he grew up following those guys.

“That is what put Clemson on my radar. Since following them in high school, then Clemson, that is what started me watching Clemson. Now I get to go there and it is exciting to think about.”