by David Hood -- Senior Writer - Friday, July 20, 2012 4:02 PM

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The Clemson coaching staff picked up another piece of the 2014 recruiting puzzle Friday afternoon when tight end prospect Cannon Smith Cannon Smith
Tight End
6-5, 235
Columbia, SC
View Full Profile gave his verbal.

Smith is the son of former Clemson defensive end Bill Smith, who played for the Tigers from 1977-81 and is also on the Clemson Board of Trustees.

Smith told TigerNet he met with Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile this morning.

“I had a meeting with Coach Swinney at 11:30, and he was talking with me and my dad about Clemson, about the program and what the expectations were for this team,” Smith said. “I really loved what he had to say, and growing up as a Tiger, I know the community well.”

And what are Swinney’s expectations for the program?

“He wants athletes who have great character,” Smith said. “He wants players who are not only good football players, but guys with character. He told me that he is a winner, and he wants to win championships. He wants to keep that winning tradition going at Clemson, and I really respect that about him.”

Smith’s dad left the room, and the younger Smith made his commitment to the head coach.

“I knew my heart was always set on going to Clemson,” he said. “I talked with Coach Swinney privately, and I went ahead and committed. When my dad came back in the room, I told him I had committed and he was really happy for me. That was a great feeling, a great moment.”

The 6-5, 233-pounder will more than likely be the only tight end taken by the Tigers for the 2014 recruiting cycle, and he said he can’t wait to be a part of the Clemson program.

“I have been coming to Clemson since I was a baby,” he said. “That has been a part of my life because my dad went here, and he is in love with it. My whole family is. My sister goes here. I have grown up in a Tiger atmosphere, and it is a great place to be. Everyone treats you like family, and that’s what I love about it.”

Smith is in Clemson for the All In Cookout, which is Friday afternoon on campus.

“I am looking forward to it, because I want to talk to the current players and other prospects,” he said. “I want to see what campus life is like for them every day. I want to talk to a lot of the guys and get to know them better.”

Smith caught 20 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore.

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David Hood can be reached at davidhood@tigernet.com

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