Upshaw looking for Clemson offer

Upshaw at the Clemson vs. Pitt game last season

by Blythe Neal - Correspondent - Fri Feb 17 14:59:27 GMT-04:00 2017

The recruiting process isn’t anything new for Bradenton, FL, native Taylor Upshaw.

He has a brother (Regan Upshaw, Jr) who is a freshman on the Clemson football team and being the son of former NFL defensive end Regan Upshaw, who was the 12th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Tampa Buccaneers, Upshaw has tons of support and guidance during this process.

“It helps out a lot having a dad who played in the NFL. I listen to everything he tells me. He is helping me become a better player.” Upshaw said.

The class of 2018, 6-5 defensive end already has offers from Navy, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, UCF, USF, and Vanderbilt, but no offer would make him extremely happy other than one from Clemson.

“Part of me really wants to get an offer from them so I can have the opportunity to play with my brother,” Upshaw said. “If Clemson presents me with that I will be extremely happy.”

Upshaw is homeschooled and also takes classes at a local college. The Upshaw family learned about Clemson when Regan Sr. was taking his daughter to western North Carolina in the spring of 2015. The family noticed a Clemson sign and stopped in to see the campus. He sent his son, Regan, Jr., to head coach Dabo Swinney’s high school camp that summer.

A preferred walk-on invite was issued and Regan Upshaw, Jr., was a member of Clemson’s National Championship team last season.

Taylor took a visit during the Clemson home game against Pitt this past year, and he said that despite the loss, “It was a great experience getting to talk to coaches (Marion) Hobby and (Brent) Venables. It was extremely live. I loved it.”

What are Upshaw’s thoughts on the new facility?

“It is very impressive and crazy,” he said. “My brother has already let me know about a couple of things already.”

Upshaw enjoys the recruiting process and is looking for a school where he can potentially play early.

“I really enjoy the recruiting process a lot. Going on these visits and seeing all of these universities and potential schools I may be attending, it really gives you insight on how things go when you’re there,” he said. “I am looking for a family environment. I would like the potential to play early, and I am also looking for a coach I can enjoy playing for. That is what I am looking for.”

Where do the Clemson coaches think Taylor will fit in?

“They are telling me that they see me playing D-end along with some 3-technique in their versatile schemes,” he said.