Why Napier Was The Right Choice |
Clemson announced on Monday that Billy Napier had been hired as the new tight ends coach to replace Jack Hines. It was a move that will not steal national headlines, but it was the right move for Clemson.
Napier is only 26 years old, and he will become a big asset to Clemson in recruiting. In 2004, Napier was a graduate assistant at Clemson. Head coach Tommy Bowden dismissed three assistant coaches following the end of the 2004 season. The holes left a void in recruiting for Clemson. Recruiting coordinator David Blackwell turned to Napier. Napier had never been put out on the road in recruiting. It did not take long for the results to come in. Napier put the wraps on one of North Carolina’s best kept secrets, Antwon Murchison. After Murchison committed to Clemson, several schools, including South Carolina, begin showing heavy interest in Murchison. In the end, Napier was a big reason why Murchison signed with Clemson. This was an indication to most recruiting analysts that Napier was getting ready to be a force in recruiting in the near future. It was not a matter of if, but when. To say Clemson had failed to live up to standards in the Tar Heel state would be a major understatement. Napier began repairing those ties with Murchison, and Marion Hobby built on that success in 2005. Now, Napier will take on most of South Georgia. Clemson has been a non factor in South Georgia for the most part in Bowden’s tenure. It is an area that Clemson should be a bigger factor in. Napier will mostly likely not be able to come in and have immediate success in Georgia. To expect Napier to turn the area around overnight would be a disservice to the job the staff at the University of Georgia has done, but we do feel Napier will make his presence felt. Over the next four to five months, you will begin hearing prospects make comments regarding Napier that revel current Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. Napier’s area may not yield the numbers Swinney pulls in, but the results will likely be shown with Napier sooner than later.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
