CLEMSON RECRUITING

Recruiting Roundup: Offers go out, Tigers in play for top recruits
Clemson is still strong for this Texas tight end

Recruiting Roundup: Offers go out, Tigers in play for top recruits


by - Senior Writer -

Clemson coaches came off the road for a few days earlier this week, but that doesn’t mean things have slowed down on the recruiting front.

We will get right to it.

The Tigers extended offers last week, including 2019 OT Michael Tarquin of Belleview (FL). Tarquin attended the 2016 spring game and camped at Clemson last summer. He has a recent slate of offers that includes Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn, Texas A&M, Tennessee, South Carolina, Miami, Louisville and Mississippi State.

He is scheduled to camp at South Carolina in early June, and told TigerNet he hopes to be at Clemson for head coach Dabo Swinney’s camp on June 12th.

“It was amazing to receive an offer from Clemson,” Tarquin said. “I really love Clemson, and started developing a relationship with offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell last June.”

He is also good friends with current Clemson OL Blake Vinson.

A 2018 offer also went out last week, this one to Nick Petit-Frere of Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep. The 4-star has offers from around the country and it will be interesting to see if Clemson gains traction.

*The Tigers made the top ten of Bradenton (FL) Braden River 3-star Taylor Upshaw. The Tigers made the cut, along with Pitt, Ole Miss, Oregon, N.C. State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisville, Vanderbilt and Tennessee.

Upshaw is the brother of Clemson walk-on linebacker Regan Upshaw Jr. and son of former NFL end Regan Sr. He picked up a Clemson offer last week, and said a full scholarship from the beginning depended on if Clemson opened up another spot in the 2018 class. There is a chance he could defer to a grayshirt opportunity.

*Clemson also made the top 12 for 2018 Butler (GA) Taylor County running back Lyn-J Dixon. Clemson made the cut for Dixon with Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Florida, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Louisville, Texas, Notre Dame and Auburn.

Interestingly enough, Clemson and Auburn haven’t offered. Clemson is holding onto its offers for 2018 running backs, perhaps waiting to see what 5-star back Zamir White decides in June.

* Clemson also made the top 10 for Missouri City (TX) Ridge Point 4-star tight end Mustapha Muhammad, along with Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and Southern Cal.

Muhammad received an offer from Clemson in April 2016 and attended the Tigers’ elite junior day in January. He is the top-ranked tight end nationally by ESPN, and his interest in Clemson is serious enough that he visited a few months ago.

“Man it was awesome. The facility was really unique, and I haven't really seen anything like it,” Muhammad told TigerNet. “I knew it would be pretty nice, but it surpassed it. When I actually got there and saw it, I was like 'Wow. I could actually have access to this place.’ It was awesome.”

He is also good friends with the top-ranked quarterback in the country, who also happens to be a Clemson commit.

“I'm really developing a friendship with Trevor Lawrence,” he said. “He's a pretty cool, down to earth guy and that could be my quarterback one day, so it's pretty cool that I'm meeting these guys and building relationships really early.”

*One running back that made news last week was Bainbridge (GA) 4-star Dameon Pierce, who decommitted from Alabama. Pierce has a multitude of offers, including Florida, Florida St. and Louisville.

Pierce was Alabama’s first commit of the 2018 class, but I’ve heard that Florida is pursuing Pierce the hardest. I also tested the waters to see if Clemson would have interest, but I’ve been told no.

*Summerville (SC) Cane Bay athlete R.J. Roderick continues to draw interest from around the region. He picked up an offer from UNC last week, and Duke, Georgia Tech, N.C. State and Wake Forest have also offered him this month following South Carolina’s offer in April.

Running backs coach Tony Elliott visited last week, but Clemson hasn’t offered.

*Clemson commitments Josh Belk, Mike Jones, Derion Kendrick, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Mascoll, Xavier Thomas and Jake Venables are among the players nominated to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. One hundred players will be selected to compete in the prestigious all-star game, which will take place in January in San Antonio. Kendrick, Lawrence, Mascoll and Thomas have all committed to play in the game.

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