Lakip commits to Tigers

Lakip was 14-for-20 on field goals.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Jan 23 11:39:22 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – Chattahoochee High School (GA) kicker-punter Ammon Lakip says now that the decision is made, it’s all up to him whether he will be the man Clemson turns to with the game on the line.

Lakip committed to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney Sunday morning following his official visit, and he told TigerNet he plans on being on campus on July 2nd and competing for the starting job right away.

“That is what I plan on doing, and hopefully I will win the job” Lakip said. “It is all in my hands.”

Lakip chose the Tigers over Georgia Tech, who had also made a full scholarship offer. Auburn had offered a greyshirt, while Maryland and Utah had preferred walk-on offers.

During his senior season at Chattahoochee, Lakip was 14-for-20 on field goals with a long of 51, and he hit on 65-of-66 on extra points. He also kicks off the ground instead of using a tee.

“I started kicking off of the ground back at the beginning of the season, just to get ready for college,” Lakip said. “I really don’t think the tee made much of a difference. I would use a tee when we went down to south Georgia where they have some bad fields and stuff, but the tee maybe added like four yards to my longest kick. I am very comfortable kicking it off the ground.”

Lakip said he met with Swinney in the head coach’s office and informed him of the decision.

“It was kind of weird how it all happened,” Lakip said. “We were meeting with Coach Swinney in his office, and he asked me if I had a timeframe on making a decision, and I told him I had already made it. He smiled and said he hoped it was Clemson, and I told him yes. I chose Clemson because I liked being with the players and meeting all of the coaches. It was great to meet everyone personally.”

Lakip’s player host was punter Dawson Zimmerman, a friend of Lakip’s from Georgia. The pair hung out with Zimmerman’s younger brother, who made the drive up from Furman.

“On Friday night, we just ate dinner and then I hung out with Dawson and his brother,” Lakip said. “Saturday we did a lot of touring, and checking out the locker room. We got to try on a jersey and run down the hill, and then we watched our highlight tapes on the Jumbotron. That was really cool. And then this morning, of course, I made the decision.”

Lakip’s parents made the trip, but left the decision to their son.

“They really like everything about Clemson,” he said. “They got along well with all the coaches and their wives. I think they had fun. We sat down and we talked about the decision, and about the academics and that kind of stuff. But it was my decision. They will support whatever decision I make. And I am coming to Clemson.”