CLEMSON RECRUITING

Clemson adds 4-star DT to 2015 recruiting class

Clemson adds 4-star DT to 2015 recruiting class


by - Staff Writer -

Sterling Johnson Sterling Johnson
Defensive Tackle
6-4, 265
Clayton, NC

ESPN:
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's commitment didn't exactly go according to plan.

The four-star Clayton (NC) Cleveland defensive tackle originally planned to commit to an SEC school, but after some thought he decided Clemson was where he should be becoming the Tigers' 12th commitment and second defensive lineman for the 2015 cycle.

"Honestly, it was originally supposed to be Tennessee, but they wanted me to come to camp and they told me they were only going to take one defensive tackle, Johnson told TigerNet shortly after committing Tuesday night. "It wasn't that that turned me away. It was that they sprung it on me at the last minute. With that being said, the only thing they really had on Clemson was the SEC Network. After all that came through and I sat and thought about it. I knew that it was God's plan for me to be a Clemson Tiger. My mom and dad really liked it down there. They have a good team and defensive scheme. It was just the total package."

Johnson chose Clemson, who offered first, over Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Forida St., stating that the opportunity to make an early impact was too much for the to pass up.

"With a lot of guys leaving early, I will have the opportunity to come in and show that I can compete and play early," Johnson said. "I understand that it's not going to be easy for me at all and I'm perfectly okay with that because I know that with the coaching staff that they have and the support that I have around me that I will be very successful and be a great college and NFL player."

Johnson caught defensive backs coach Mike ReedMike Reed
Defensive Backs Coach
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a little off guard when he called to make his commitment official.

"I called Coach Reed and I'm about to call Coach Swinney as soon as I get off the phone," Johnson said. "He (Reed) asked me what's up and I said, 'Well, coach I want to be a Tiger. He said, 'A Tiger?' I said, 'Well, yeah. That's what Clemson is called, right?' I'm just excited to get down to Death Valley and get to work."

However, it wasn't until a late night call with head coach Dabo Swinney - who has to accept the commitment - that it was official, with Swinney telling Johnson, "It's in the books."

The 6-5, 288-pound prospect who plans to enroll early was named Cleveland's defensive MVP after racking up 80 tackles and seven sacks in 2013.

2015 FOOTBALL COMMITS (12)
Name POS Ht/Wt Hometown ESPN Rank
Mitch Hyatt Photo Mitch Hyatt OT 6-6/270 Suwannee, GA
Kelly Bryant Photo Kelly Bryant QB 6-4/205 Piedmont, SC
Noah Green Photo Noah Green OT 6-5/275 Boiling Springs, SC
Van Smith Photo Van Smith ATH/RB 6-0/170 Charlotte, NC
Shadell Bell Photo Shadell Bell WR 6-3/190 Decatur, GA
Tucker Israel Photo Tucker Israel QB 6-0/195 Orlando, FL
Sterling Johnson Photo Sterling Johnson DT 6-4/265 Clayton, NC
Jake Fruhmorgen Photo Jake Fruhmorgen OT 6-5/280 Tampa, FL
Tanner Muse Photo Tanner Muse LB/S 6-4/205 Belmont, NC
Kaleb Chalmers Photo Kaleb Chalmers CB 5-11/170 Greenwood, SC
Chad Smith Photo Chad Smith LB 6-4/215 Sterling, VA
Gage Cervenka Photo Gage Cervenka DT 6-3/280 Greenwood, SC --
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TigerNet News®
spacer The Total Package
Tiger4Life1995
spacer Re: The Total Package
slumdog
spacer Awesome news!!***
phytin_tyger
spacer Re: Awesome news!!***
slumdog
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Purple_Panther
spacer SEC plays dirty
VSmoove
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allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Awesome news***
uproar84
spacer Re: Awesome news***
slumdog
spacer Re: SEC plays dirty
slumdog
spacer SEC Network...only on Dish. LOL Dish blows.***
ColaTownTiger
spacer Re: SEC Network...only on Dish. LOL Dish blows.***
1988NC
spacer Dish and Uverse right now.
Tiger Woods
spacer Its an odd statement...
ClemfanWV
spacer Re: Its an odd statement...
slumdog
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slumdog
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NorCATiger®
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ziggy_1118
spacer Watson, Barnes, Ogundeko, Lawson, Watkins, Pagano and Dodd
ctigers90
spacer Re: Watson, Barnes, Ogundeko, Lawson, Watkins, Pagano and Dodd
slumdog
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slumdog
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allorangeallthetime52®
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slumdog
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slumdog
spacer This is our 2nd DL
rhettm
spacer Nice, but you can bet UT ain't done yet!!!
CootTamer
spacer Re: Nice, but you can bet UT ain't done yet!!!
slumdog
spacer It's good the beef is starting to filter in because this
truetiger1998
spacer GOD's Plan!***
ColaTownTiger
spacer Re: Clemson adds 4-star DT- have they explained to him yet
74TIGER
spacer Will he still attend the Vol's camp?
apextiger
spacer He said he was done.***
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I bleed orange
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