Tuesday December 16, 2008

Defensive Recruiting Notes

Defensive Recruiting Notes
Yesterday I hit on some of the top offensive prospects the staff is coveting, so today let’s look at some players on the defensive side of the football. Clemson currently has five commitments on defense and would like to grab six or seven more before February.

Defensive End
Perhaps the Tigers top commitment so far comes from Malliciah Goodman (6-4, 255) of Florence, SC. Rivals.com has Goodman as the state’s top prospect. They also have him as the nation’s number two strong side defensive end and 36th overall regardless of position.

This past weekend the staff entertained Leon Mackey (6-6, 260) of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA. The prep school star is basically down to Clemson, Virginia Tech and Arkansas in the next few weeks because he is a mid-term transfer who will enroll in January. He has offers from those three schools plus Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Mackey is a big prospect who could play defensive end or continue to grow into a defensive tackle.

Sam Montgomery (6-4, 235) of Greenwood, SC is another top defensive end prospect that has some interest in the Tigers. He has been extremely difficult to read throughout this entire process and I have no idea where he will end up. Montgomery will take his official visits to Michigan, Tennessee, NC State, LSU and Oregon. He says he will also look at both in-state schools. Again, I would not be surprised if he signed with any of those seven schools.

Defensive Tackle
Clemson would like to sign a couple of defensive tackle prospects in this class and Mackey could grow into the position. Also Tyler Shatley (6-3, 255) of Connellys Spprings, NC is currently committed to the Tigers and could wind up at one of several positions including defensive tackle.

Perhaps the highest rated defensive tackle prospect currently on the Clemson board is Brandon Moore (6-4, 315) of Montgomery, AL. Alabama is his reported leader but Clemson will get an official visit in January as will Miami. He has already been to Florida.

Another Hargrave Military prospect looking at the Tigers is defensive tackle Kyrhi Thornton (6-3, 300). Clemson and South Florida are his current leaders and both have lined up January official visits.

Jerquari Schofield (6-6, 300) of Aiken, SC is a Tennessee commitment that is being recruited by some schools as an offensive tackle while other think he will end up as a defensive tackle. Clemson has picked up interest in the South Aiken High School product in recent weeks and appear to have a shot at getting an official visit in January.

Linebacker
Linebacker is a big need in this class and Clemson currently has three commitments and may be looking to add a fourth.

Eric Fields (6-1, 205) of Warner Robins, GA is an active linebacker that committed to Clemson this summer. He also had offers from Florida State, Georgia and NC State.

Corico Hawkins (6-0, 220) of Milledgeville, GA also committed to Clemson this summer. He is scheduled to enroll at Clemson in January. Hawkins also had offers from Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Miami, Georgia Tech and NC State.

Quandon Christian (6-3, 205) of Lake View, SC committed to Clemson early in the process as well. He recently took an official visit to NC State but is once again set on the Tigers.

Jon Bostic (6-1, 220) of Wellington, FL is one of the nation’s top linebacker prospects. He has already taken official visits to Auburn, LSU, FSU and Clemson. He will visit Florida in January and the Gators may be the leaders at this time.

Sam Barrington (6-3, 220) of Jacksonville, FL is a bigger linebacker that will visit get a chance to watch the Tigers practice in Jacksonville after Christmas in preparation for the Gator Bowl. He will take his official visit to Clemson in January. He has already been to Purdue, Illinois and South Florida. He will visit Clemson and Florida in January.

Safety
With Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemens graduating, Clemson will have two new starting safeties next season. One player that will compete for a playing time is Jonathan Meeks (6-2, 185) of Hargrave Military. Meeks committed to the Tigers this past weekend. He also visited North Carolina and NC State.

Clemson is looking for one more safety in this class.

Cornerback
The Tigers would like to have at least one corner in this class and are involved with a couple of the top rated corners in the South.

Justin Green (5-10, 180) of Louisville, KY is an Ohio State commitment but Clemson and Alabama will get official visits in January.

Jayron Hosley (5-11, 175) of Delray Beach, FL has already tripped to Louisville. He will take official visits to Michigan, South Florida and Clemson in January.

Note: The staff is currently still evaluating prospects and going back in to try to build new relationships with other prospects. Therefore, I would look for names to be added and deleted from the recruiting priorities fairly frequently in the next three or four weeks.

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