High praise from elite prospects after big recruiting weekend at Clemson

Clemson has a 11 commits and On3’s No. 5 ranked recruiting class. And this past weekend will go a long way towards if the Tigers stay in the top five.

Head coach Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff hosted the majority of their remaining top targets for the one big official visit weekend they do of the summer.

The buzz coming out of it is strong.

Five-star OT David Sanders Jr. returns

The On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. was back at his childhood dream school as he considers Clemson alongside Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

A source that spent time with the Sanders family says there was “a lot of energy” and it was a “good visit.”

Sanders will continue with his process. He already took his official visit to South Carolina in April and made it to Nebraska over Mother’s Day weekend in May. Georgia is slated for this weekend, Tennessee the next, Alabama mid-week on June 18 and then Ohio State with the final trip on June 21.

Two of the top safeties in the country left impressed

Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson On300 safeties Anquon Fegans and Monroe (NC) High’s Jordan Young were two more elite prospects on campus.

Fegans heads to Miami and Georgia over the next two weekend and is also high on Auburn and LSU among others.

“The environment in Clemson is always the same every time,” Fegans said. “A homey environment and what continues to excite me about my future with the Tigers is that you get the same people in recruiting and outside it and love the way things are there.”

Florida State, Michigan, NC State and South Carolina are a few of the other schools Young is keeping tabs on.

“The environment in Death Valley is definitely one of a kind!” Young said. “It’s just very family oriented, everything is done as one all together. There is nothing bad I can say about Clemson! What excites me the most is the relationships I am creating and see where we go with this process!”

Elite edge rusher Bryce Davis and his family love the culture at Clemson

The Tigers are a finalists for Greensboro (NC) Grimsley On300 edge rusher Bryce Davis alongside Georgia, Duke and South Carolina.

“It was good,” Davis’s father Darrin said. “It was really good. It was eye-opening. We knew a lot about Clemson before going into the official visit.

“What they say man, it is like family. I was just talking to my wife. I’m a 20-something year police, law enforcement veteran. I’m very cynical and skeptical about what people say. Our first visit there listening to Coach Swinney, not that I didn’t believe him but again I’m cynical, is this really real? But he showed me this weekend that yeah it’s real and he along with his staff they really do care about the players. I don’t think it’s fake at all.

“We knew about the PAW Journey. We knew about that. Just to see everything in it’s proper place and perspective it was good.”

Davis is slated to be at Duke this coming weekend, then Georgia with South Carolina penciled in for June 21. The football fit at Clemson is a strong one too.

“We think that (Chris) Rumpf is great for Bryce and we think he’ll be used the right way according to his skill set and size,” Darrin said. “He’s excited about that. On top of Rumpf they have (Nick) Eason, Da’Quan Bowers, a lot of guys that played in the league. It was good to see that and see those guys interact with my son.

“I really feel good about dropping him off and leaving him in their hands. Not only for the football development but him being a young man and learning how to navigate life. That’s a plus.”

Clemson giving touted defensive lineman Christian Garrett a lot to think about

One of the most sought-after defensive linemen in America in Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian’s Christian Garrett took his official visit.

Georgia and Tennessee round out the top three.

“The feeling in Death Valley this weekend felt like family and I’m excited to keep building on the relationships I already have there nearing my commitment,” Garrett said.

Garrett’s commitment date is July 20.

“Clemson has also always been high in my recruitment but they boosted that this weekend,” Garrett said.

Tigers host a nice group of offensive linemen

Sanders wasn’t the only coveted offensive lineman on campus as On300 offensive tackle Hardy Watts, four-star Max Buchanan, four-star offensive tackle Mario Nash and interior offensive linemen Mal Waldrep and Rowan Byrne all soaked in the festivities.

“The environment is amazing,” Watts said. “I am excited about the future of the Tigers and how Coach Swinney is building his team.”

“You can definitely feel the family environment,” Buchanan said. “From the coaches and staff on down to the players. I don’t think I ever saw one offensive linemen without seeing the rest of the crew close by. It’s cool to see how close they are. Exciting to see how Clemson really actually develops the players they recruit and not rely on the portal. Honestly it’s been high since the first time I camped here in eighth grade and continues to impress me every time I visit.”

“I have loved the feel of Clemson since day one,” Waldrep said. “They have continued to treat me extremely well throughout my whole recruiting process. From the staff to the players to the fans, everyone has treated me great. This weekend was an eye-opener that showed all of the opportunity that Clemson truly has.”

“The environment was great,” Nash said. “A lot of good people around you at all times. You can really feel the connection with everybody! And it excites me because I know what Clemson has is real and authentic!”

“The environment is awesome,” Byrne said. “It’s a real family here. It’s been a fun weekend. Learned so much about the program. Nowhere better to be this weekend than Clemson.”

More from the big weekend

Homestead (Fla.) High On300 receiver Cortez Mills says Clemson is “top two on my list for sure.

“What’s really exciting me about Clemson is they always treat me like a top priority. The coaching staff never changed. They stayed the same since they first offered me and it’s a great program on and off the field.”

Oklahoma, Miami and Florida State are set for future officials and Nebraska got one in May.

Clemson is working to make a move on Florida State regarding Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage four-star cornerback Gregory Thomas.

“The environment is great,” Thomas said. “It’s a very down to earth place and there’s more than what meets the eye when you come here. It’s a special place for sure. One thing that excites me is definitely the culture and the way they do things here.”

Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood cornerback Donovan Starr is one of the fastest defensive backs in the country. He also likes Tennessee and Auburn.

“The environment is crazy,” Starr said. “It’s one of the best in college football. I’m glad to be here because we have done a lot of fun activities. I’m excited about Clemson because they are showing crazy love and that I’m a top priority.”