Nation's No. 2 DT to visit Clemson in July

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Mon Jun 24 11:51:15 GMT-04:00 2013

The Tigers have a lot of ground to make up with one of North Carolina’s top 2014 prospects, but the Clemson coaching staff will get their chance in early July.

Five-star defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard Lamont Gaillard
Defensive Tackle
6-4, 310
Fayetteville, NC
View Full Profile out of Fayetteville (NC) Pine Forest has favored Georgia for quite some time, but he will be stopping by Clemson after his visit to Athens next month in order to give the Tigers another look.

“I don’t really have a list of favorites, but I do know that Georgia is at the top of the list right now,” Gaillard told TigerNet Saturday night. “Clemson is right there, though. I’m supposed to go up there and visit them when I go to Georgia for a visit. I’m supposed to make the trip the first week of July. I really like the Clemson coaches and the Tigers have been doing really well. I just want to take another look at them.”

Gaillard has been in contact with Clemson defensive coordinator Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
View Full Profile to talk about the visit.

“Coach Venables is telling me to stay the course, keep my head right and stay in the books,” Gaillard said. “They are telling me about what we are going to do when I come for my visit and that we are going to have a good time.”

Gaillard hopes to continue to build the relationship with the Clemson coaches and get a feel for the Clemson campus.

“I’m looking to get a feel for the atmosphere and get to know the coaches better,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll still feel good about them when I leave.”

Gaillard holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida St., Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina St., Notre Dame, and South Carolina.

However, it is the camaraderie with the Georgia coaches and players that have the Bulldogs out front.

“I just really like the coaches there,” he said. “I’ve hung out with some of the players and that made me more comfortable with them.”

After his early July visits, Gaillard hopes to make a decision.

“The recruiting process is going pretty good,” he said. “I’m just taking my time, but I expect to make a decision soon. Hopefully it will be before my senior season starts.”

The 6-2, 328-pound prospect said that he has multiple strengths at the defensive tackle position- proven by his numbers during his junior year.

“I’m an all-around player. I can play up and down,” he said. “I get off the ball quickly and I’ve got good hips. I attack other teams well. I tackle well.”

During his junior season, Gaillard tallied 100 tackles, including 72 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks.