Pair of Clemson commitments sticking with the Tigers

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Jan 24 21:51:36 GMT-04:00 2010

The Clemson Tigers capped off another huge recruiting weekend on Sunday by learning that two of their biggest recruits are sticking with their Clemson commitments despite a push from rival schools.

Defensive end Tavaris Barnes said that Florida St. head coach Jimbo Fisher, wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey and defensive ends coach Darin Eliot came by his house on Thursday in an effort to get the 4-star player to swing back to the Seminoles, the school he originally had committed to.

“Basically, they just wanted me to come in on an official visit,” Barnes said. “They told me how they didn’t just want me, they needed me. They were talking to me about Tallahassee being close to home, and telling me about summer jobs they have there. They were just trying to sell me on being so close to home.”

Barnes said that despite the hard push from Seminole coaches, he told them he was still firm with the Tigers.

“I told coach coach Dawsey I was going to stick with Clemson,” Barnes said. “He asked me why, and I told him that is what my heart is telling me to do. I told him that when I had committed to FSU that I did so for all the wrong reasons. I feel that going to Clemson is the best move for me.

“Before, it was a lot of people telling me I needed to go to FSU, and that it was close to home. I like FSU, but it just isn’t for me. Just because you like something doesn’t mean you are supposed to be there. Clemson is the right place for me and for my family.”

Barnes said that Clemson receivers coach Jeff Scott, his recruiter, will be with him on Saturday to firm up Signing Day.

Another Clemson recruit, offensive guard David Beasley, said after his official visit to Clemson on January 12th that he wasn’t interested in taking anymore official visits, but he wound taking an official trip to Athens and the University of Georgia this past weekend.

However, Beasley said that he still 100 percent committed to the Tigers.