Camp Confidential: Higgins puts on a show, 5-star QB works out as camp ends |
CLEMSON –
Dabo Swinney’s high school camps are in the books for another year, but Thursday morning’s finale still provided the wow factor.
Let’s get right to it, and we will start with Tee Higgins and some of the information we’ve gleaned. Higgins, Amari Rodgers and quarterback Hunter Johnson didn’t work out in the morning drills (all three were dressed in Clemson gear), but we heard they would participate in the one-on-one’s and Swinney Ball. During Wednesday night’s session – long after the media had been evicted from the building – Johnson worked with both Rodgers and Higgins. According to one observer, Rodgers “sliced and diced” his way to success, while Higgins simply put on a show. He went over defenders. He went past them. He went through them. He went under them. I was told that almost every pass that came his way he caught, and that he high-points the ball at the high point. The high school coach dispensing the information told me it was one of the best camp performances he’s ever seen. I’ve also been told that Johnson and Rodgers have been working hard on Higgins, and Higgins spent time with the head coach in Swinney’s golf cart this morning. As one person put it, if Clemson winds up with all three, there is a word for it. The word is ridiculous. I was also told that Rodgers and Johnson have also been working on Zachary Carter, the strongside defensive end out of Tampa (FL) Hillsborough who was in attendance all three days. *It’s kind of hard to ignore the behemoth being built behind the practice fields – the new football operations center. Clemson has been showing it off and apparently it’s made quite an impression on a number of players. *5-star quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Cartersville (GA) was on hand for the morning session. The visit was important for the 2018 prospect – he’s said he wants to make a decision later this summer and this might be the last chance the Clemson coaches get to have him on campus. He worked out with quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter, and much like Johnson or Emory Jones, there’s a reason he has earned the accolades. He has arm strength like Johnson – the kind of arm juice that could cut through a 50-MPH wind. He’s also very accurate. Another quarterback on hand was 2018 Tampa (FL) Sickles Jordan “Ju-Ju” McCloud, the younger brother of Clemson receiver Ray-Ray McCloud. McCloud is listed as an athlete by most recruiting services because he can also play defensive back. However, he feels like the Clemson coaching staff knows what he can do at defensive back and worked out with the signal callers. He picked up an offer from Maryland last week (as a QB) and both Alabama and Michigan St. have told him to come to camp and they will offer. He has potential at the quarterback spot – nice throwing motion and footwork – and he will get faster as he continues to recover from his leg injury. His recruiting is just beginning to heat up. *Wide receiver Deon Cain gave the final speech at the end of camp. More Dabo Swinney Camp Coverage
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