5-star DT has Tigers in top three after trip to Clemson

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Fri Jun 13 09:04:18 GMT-04:00 2014

After a last minute visit to Clemson Tuesday afternoon, the Tigers have vaulted to the top of Julian Rochester Julian Rochester
Defensive Tackle
6-5, 280
Powder Springs, GA
View Full Profile ’s list.

The 2016 defensive tackle out of Powder Springs (GA) McEachern figures to be one of the top prospects for the next recruiting cycle, and many scouting services will have him as one of the top three prospects at his position, if not the top spot.

Rochester made the trip to Clemson and Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile ’s high school camp with McEachern head coach Kyle Hockman and Hockman’s son, quarterback and teammate Bailey Hockman. While Hockman worked out under the eye of offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile , Rochester spent time watching defensive coaches Dan BrooksDan Brooks
Assistant Coach / Defensive Line
View Full Profile and Marion HobbyMarion Hobby
Assistant Coach / Defensive Ends
View Full Profile put the campers through their paces.

After spending time with Brooks – Clemson’s defensive tackles coach - Rochester said that Clemson is automatically in his top three.

“They [Clemson] upped their game a lot,” Rochester said Thursday evening. “They moved really, really high on my list. They are in the top three automatically. I don't really have a set list or anything like that, but they would definitely be at the top.”

The 6-6, 280-pounder has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami (FL), N.C. State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M, among others. However, he said that the Clemson coaching staff simply needs to keep doing what they’re doing to stay in contention for his services.

“They just need to keep recruiting me,” Rochester said. “I mean, I've got a long time before I have to make a decision, but I really enjoyed my visit.”

What really stood out to Rochester was the sense of family among the coaches and players.

“It was really good visit,” he said. “The coaches treated me like family. It was nice. I talked to all of the coaches. They all came up to me.”

Especially Brooks, who would be his position coach should he choose to come to Clemson.

“He was basically my chauffeur the whole time,” Rochester said of Brooks. “I was with him the entire time I was there. He was just telling me how good Clemson is, where the program is, and academics. He's a funny guy. He's a great guy.”

He was even able to see defensive ends coach Marion Hobby in action.

“We didn't talk a whole lot, but I watched how he worked out other guys at the camp. He really takes pride in his work,” Rochester said of Hobby.

The plans for future facility upgrades really stood out to Rochester.

"I know that they've got the new lounge and are always trying to improve the facilities," he said. "They've got a bunch of new facilities that they are working on and that kind of stuff."

As a sophomore, Rochester had 125 tackles and 11 sacks.

Watch Rochester highlights here