CLEMSON RECRUITING

Observations from Dabo Swinney Camp - Day 1
Tigers could get a commit from Dalvin Cook this week.

Observations from Dabo Swinney Camp - Day 1


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – The second session of Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
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’s football camp started Tuesday evening in muggy and soggy conditions following an hour or more of torrential downpours in the Clemson area.

The fields – soggy almost to an extent that you wondered if someone would get hurt – underlined the fact that the new indoor practice facility is a must-have in this day and age.

Miami (FL) Central head coach Telly Lockette brought several players to the camp, including 2014 RB prospect Dalvin Cook Dalvin Cook
Running Back
5-11, 190
Miami, FL

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. Lockette told me he wouldn’t be surprised to see Cook commit to Clemson while he is in town, something we have heard from other sources. I watched Cook work out with running backs coach Tony Elliott for a little bit – just to get an idea of his potential – and I like how he runs low to the ground despite his listed height of 5-11. He also shows a very quick burst off the line.

Lockette also brought a lot of other kids – including Miami commit Trevor Darling and FSU commit Joseph Yearby – but there is another kid I feel like I need to mention: 2016 wide receiver prospect Devante Phillips (6-1, 200) and 2014 offensive line prospect Trevor Darling. Phillips is quick off the start, and I thought he looked like one of the best of a pretty good group of wide receivers.

The Miami Central kids all showed up in matching green shirts and shorts – they were easy to tell from everybody else – but they all looked the part. In fact, defensive coordinator Brent Venables brought Swinney over to meet Lockette, and Swinney joked that Clemson would “take everybody that you brought, coach.” He wasn’t far from kidding.


Jayron Kearse

I watched Fort Myers (Fla.) South 4-star athlete Jayron Kearse work out with the wide receivers for a good bit of the second session. The Miami commit actually looks taller than his listed 6-4 to me, and he showed decent speed for such a big kid, but I definitely see him as more of a threat on the defensive side of the ball once he gets to college.

However, Clemson receivers coach Jeff Scott was telling Kearse while he was running drills that, “he was going to get the DB [defensive back] out of him and turn him into a wide receiver before the end of camp.”

Another receiver that caught my eye was 2013 prospect Tityus Mitchell, who has drawn interest from Clemson and several other schools, but has yet to receive an offer. I actually liked his hands, and he looked as fluid as many of the other big-name prospects.


Austin Droogsma

Gulf Breeze (FL) OG Austin Droogsma Austin Droogsma
Offensive Guard
6-3, 310
Gulf Breeze, FL

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and OG Alex Pagonis showed up just as the second session of camp started, and they will work out for the first time Wednesday morning. It was my first time seeing the pair in person, and Droogsma – who has offers from Clemson and FSU among others - looks like he is ready to play right now. In fact, one current Clemson player that was standing nearby asked me who Droogsma was, and said we should sign him right away.

Pagonis is 6-4 and well over 300 pounds, and has drawn interest from several schools. I can't wait to watch the two of them work out on Wednesday.


Wayne Gallman

And finally – Lawrenceville (Ga.) Grayson running back and Clemson commit Wayne Gallman Wayne Gallman
Running Back
6-1, 195
Loganville, GA

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apparently impressed a lot of people during Tuesday’s early session. He was drawing rave reviews from several of the coaches who were in attendance, and he told me he can't wait to get the rest of his Grayson crew in Clemson on Wednesday.

Gallman spent several minutes talking to Swinney, who then introduced Gallman to tight ends Eric Mac Lain and Darrell Smith.

“Here is our newest running back,” Swinney told the pair. “He is a baller.”

Mac Lain grinned broadly, extended his big paw of a hand and told Gallman, “Get behind us. We are going to be your blockers. You just get on our backs and follow us.”

Gallman also told me that he has watched the highlights of 2014 QB commit DeShaun Watson DeShaun Watson
Quarterback
6-3, 190
Gainesville, GA

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, and then watched him at a recent 7-on-7 passing camp. Gallman came away impressed, and said he can't wait to play with Watson.

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