Analyzing impact as 4-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell commits to Clemson

CLEMSON — Clemson entered June without a single defensive commitment in the 2022 class.

The Tigers will leave the month with three elite defenders. Clemson picked up a pledge from IMG Academy four-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell on Sunday afternoon on Instagram.

It’s a huge win and momentum boost for Dabo Swinney’s program, specifically Brent Venables. Clemson’s defensive coordinator served as the primary recruiter for the No. 7 edge rusher in the nation. Campbell took visits to Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Georgia throughout the month of June as the dead period came to an end. But his visit to Clemson on June 8 made all the difference. The Tigers’ relationship with the prospect came through on the visit, enough so for him to decide to commit to Clemson.

He had all of his questions answered over the visit to Clemson, and now the next time he returns he’ll be committed. ClemsonSports.com is breaking down what his commitment means for the Tigers and the national recruiting scene.

What Jihaad Campbell gives Clemson on field, means for 2022 class

A bit of a hybrid linebacker, Clemson targeted Campbell as a standup edge rusher. With a 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame he has the length and size the Tigers want in a defensive end.

He played his first three years of high school at Erial (N.J.) Timber Creek before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. This past season he played seven games at wideout and defensive end. In six games of available stats, he caught 15 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 45 tackles and seven sacks. With great closing speed and a strong first step, he’s long and doesn’t allow many quarterbacks to get out of his reach.

Most of Campbell’s recruitment was a Clemson and Ohio State battle, but over the last few months SEC powers Georgia and Florida got heavily involved. With scholarship offers from 32 schools, Campbell could have gone just about anywhere he wanted. The Tigers were able to hold off other schools, landing the 18th-overall player out of Florida and the top-150 recruit in the class. Playing at IMG will put Campbell against the top high school teams in the country, meaning he will be ready to play at the next level when he enrolls at Clemson.

Now that the No. 7 edge rusher in the nation is committed, he can help build up the rest of the 2022 class. With three defensive commitments in the class, Clemson can have Campbell begin helping in recruiting and building relationships with the other commitments. And of note, this is the second-consecutive recruit Clemson and Ohio State have gone head-to-head for, with the Tigers coming out on top both times.

How Jihaad Campbell commitment impacts 2022 recruiting rankings

The Tigers move into the No. 18 spot in the 2022 class rankings behind Mississippi State and ahead of Florida, and they are now sitting at No. 8 in the per-player average (92.02), according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, with Georgia (93.38; 11 commitments) and Southern California (92.29; nine commitments) now holding a slight lead. Ohio State’s 94.39 per-player average leads the class. The Tigers overall ranking will continue to rise as they land more commitments; nearly every school in the top 10 has commitments in the double digits.

In the ACC, Clemson closed in on Florida State’s lead. The Seminoles currently boast the top class with a composite score of 211.20 with 13 commitments. Clemson is now at 166.76, trailing second-place Boston College, which stands at 189.30 with 18 commits. The Tigers have captured the ACC recruiting crown four-consecutive years.

In addition to Campbell, Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class also includes quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receiver Adam Randall, offensive linemen Collin Sadler and Blake Miller, cornerback Toriano Pride, safety Sherrod Covil and specialist Robert Gunn.