Class Closing
It's hard to believe how much recruiting has changed in the last few years. The days of crucial official visits in January and the importance of having the last official visit has given way to the early offers and commitments.
As we stand in the middle of June, Clemson's Class of 2016 is all but finished. The staff has secured a class that is currently ranked second in the country according to rivals.com. The Tigers class is second to only Alabama at this point.
The staff has 18 known public commitments. That list includes one five star, seven four stars and ten three stars. The staff is currently waiting on only a handful of prospects to round out the class with maybe three or four more scholarships available.
On the offensive side of the ball Clemson is finished at quarterback and tight end. Coaches would like to take one athlete who could possibly play wide out or wide receiver, and Tampa's Ray Ray McCloud is the primary target there. McCloud is a four star athlete that is high on Clemson, with Florida perhaps the main competition at this stage.
The Tigers may take one more offensive lineman to compliment the four current commitments. Zack Bailey is a four-star prospect from Summerville, SC that should choose between South Carolina and Clemson.
Clemson has two defensive end commitments and could take one more. Austin Bryant is a four star from Thomasville, GA has Clemson, FSU and LSU atop his list.
Albert Huggins may be the best player in the South Carolina. The four star from Orangeburg, SC is high on Clemson and Georgia heading into the second half of his summer. Huggins is a defensive end/defensive tackle prospect.
Perhaps the highest rated defensive tackle the Tigers have a good shot at is a four star defensive tackle from Manassas, VA who favors the Tigers over other national powers.
The Tigers haven't taken many JUCO prospects in recent years but have interest in DJ Jones, who is a four star originally from Powdersville, SC. Tennessee leads Alabama and Clemson at this point.
There are a few others on the board but there are very few scholarships available and the above five prospects are five of the top players still on the wish list. It will be interesting to see how the timing works out with their decisions and how much room is available when those decisions are made.
The next big event comes in early July when the staff will entertain a bunch of top prospects at the annual summer cookout for prospects and their families.
At this rate this class could be wrapped up or very close to being wrapped up by the time the team reports back for August camp.
My how things have changed in this recruiting industry.
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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.
Those who need our prayers include: Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker,
Levon KirklandLevon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
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and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport,
Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
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, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Mark Whiten, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.