Clemson in the running for elite tackle

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Tue Jun 11 12:05:51 GMT-04:00 2013

One of the elite tackle prospects in the Southeast camped at Clemson last week, and says that Clemson is a team he could see himself playing for in a few years.

Mason Veal Mason Veal
Offensive Tackle
6-6, 290
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile is a 2015 prospect out of Charlotte (NC) Ardrey Kell who got an offer from Clemson earlier this spring, and he camped at Clemson last Thursday, getting to spend time with offensive line coach Robbie CaldwellRobbie Caldwell
Assistant Coach / Offensive Line
View Full Profile in the process.

“It was a great visit. I love it down there,” Veal told TigerNet late Monday. “I love the coaching staff, the stadium, and the community around Clemson. It seems like family more than anything else. And I love Coach Caldwell – he really knows his stuff.”

The 6-5, 288-pounder had to practice in the rain, but said he came away impressed with Clemson’s new indoor practice facility.

“It definitely rained a lot, but I love the indoor practice facility,” he said. “That place is great. It is awesome what they have in there and then with all of the practice fields outside. It is obvious why they are reeling in Top 10 recruiting classes.”

Veal said he enjoyed his time with Caldwell.

“He helped me with my hands during the drills,” he said. “Then he told me that he really wants me to be a Clemson Tiger, and that he wants me to come around as much as possible and see the campus and see what Clemson is all about. He is an old school coach and more soft-spoken than the coaches I have now. Clemson runs the zone-read, and we do that at my school, so it wouldn’t be hard for me to learn. I can definitely see myself playing for Coach Caldwell.”

He also spent time with Charlotte area recruiter and tight ends coach Danny PearmanDanny Pearman
Assistant Head Coach / Tight Ends
View Full Profile .

“Coach Pearman is trying to build our relationship,” he said. “He also told me that he wants to get me on campus and see what Clemson is all about. I definitely want to get back as much as possible – when you are in Clemson it is about Clemson football more than anything else.”

Veal already has connections to Clemson – his uncle is Michael Watson, who played tennis at Clemson in the late 1980’s and still has ties to the school. He also has ties to South Carolina – his parents attended South Carolina and his dad, Dylan Veal, played left guard at South Carolina from 1987-90.

Veal said that people constantly ask him if Clemson has a shot – because of his parents’ ties to South Carolina – and he tells them that Clemson has more than just a shot.

“Right now my top three are Clemson, North Carolina and South Carolina,” he said. “Those are the three schools that are coming after me the hardest. People are always asking me if I would go to Clemson – because of my parents – and I tell everybody that I love it down there. My parents have nothing to do with it. I can definitely see myself being a Tiger.”