Countdown to Signing Day: Clemson making final push

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Jan 30, 2013, 3:27 PM

One week until National Signing Day, and the Clemson coaches are on the road making final in-home visits and wrapping up the 2013 recruiting class, and while things are becoming a little clearer on some prospects, the jury is still out on others.

This recruiting cycle has been filled with more drama than any other I can remember, and it might get worse between now and Wednesday of next week.

We’ve been making calls and texting back and forth with prospects, coaches and parents in order to get a feel for everything that is transpiring.

* Asiantii Woulard Asiantii Woulard
Quarterback
6-3, 205
Winter Park, FL
View Full Profile – Everybody has been asking about Woulard. The 4-star Elite 11 MVP visited Clemson a few weeks ago, and when he left the campus it appeared that Clemson was the leader. I spoke with Woulard’s father at length, and it looked like Clemson was the front-runner. Woulard made the trek to UCLA last weekend, and that’s when things got murky. I was told Monday evening that Clemson backed off of Woulard. Not too much later, I received a text message from someone who said that Woulard had injured his ankle late in the season, and that there were injury concerns. I called Woulard’s father again, and he told me that all the reports were wrong – his son hadn’t injured an ankle but had broken his fibula, but he was all healed. Is that the reason? I don’t know. But this one appears to be UCLA.

*Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile and Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
View Full Profile made the trek to Hawaii earlier this week, where they had dinner with C.J. Spiller on Monday and then had in-home with defensive tackle commit Scott Pagano Scott Pagano
Defensive Tackle
6-4, 280
Honolulu, HI
View Full Profile on Monday. They departed Hawaii in the wee hours of the morning and had an in-home with 4-star commit Jayron Kearse Jayron Kearse
Safety
6-4, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile in Fort Myers on Tuesday. Swinney continues his whirlwind week on Wednesday when and Dan BrooksDan Brooks
Assistant Coach / Defensive Line
View Full Profile meet with offensive line target Tyrone Crowder Tyrone Crowder
Offensive Guard
6-2, 315
Rockingham, NC
View Full Profile and defensive end commit Dane Rogers Dane Rogers
Defensive End
6-3, 245
Shelby, NC
View Full Profile .

*Thursday is even more busy for Swinney and the coaches – Swinney will visit new ATH commit T.J. Green T.J. Green
Athlete
6-4, 200
Sylacauga, AL
View Full Profile in Alabama, and he and Jeff ScottJeff Scott
Assistant Coach / WRs / Recruiting Coordinator
View Full Profile will meet later in the day with New Smyrna (FL) wide receiver James Clark James Clark
Wide Receiver
5-11, 170
New Smyrna Beach, FL
View Full Profile . Clark is down to Clemson and Ohio St., and would be a nice addition to Clemson’s recruiting class.

*Friday is the day that Swinney, Brooks and Caldwell get their last meeting with 5-star prospect Montravius Adams Montravius Adams
Defensive Tackle
6-3, 281
Vienna, GA
View Full Profile . I spoke with Adams’ coach on Tuesday, and even though Alabama is making a late push, he still believes this one is down to Clemson and Georgia. Whatever you do, don’t watch ESPN’s College Football Live, which would have you believe Clemson isn’t in the running for Adams, as they said on Tuesday’s show when they said it was a battle between Florida, Georgia and Bama. That’s not the case – Clemson is very much in play, and after talking with his coach, I love Clemson’s chances. We might know a little more after all of the visits are done by the end of this week. Swinney will be the last head coach in the door for Adams, who visits Auburn this weekend.

* Carl Lawson Carl Lawson
Defensive End
6-3, 251
Alpharetta, GA
View Full Profile – I know a lot of fans were excited about the possibility of adding Lawson and Adams together, and the two had mentioned they would like to play their college ball together. From everything I am hearing, it looks like the only way that happens is if Adams goes to one of the dreaded SEC schools. I’ve talked to several people who are close to the Lawson situation, and while they all tell me that Clemson has a legitimate shot, it looks like Tennessee is still a viable option and that Auburn – the school he is committed to – is still very much a possibility.

*I exchanged texts with corner prospect MacKensie Alexander MacKensie Alexander
Defensive Back
5-11, 175
Immokalee, FL
View Full Profile , and he told me he was in contact with Clemson’s staff this past weekend. We all know that things shifted suddenly for Alexander, and he announced that he and his brother – Mackenro Alexander – weren’t necessarily a package deal. That opened things back up for Clemson, and Alexander assured me that Clemson is right at the top of his list.

*The staff has an in-home with defensive back Korin Wiggins this week, and I’m told that this one may be coming to a resolution. I was told a few weeks ago that Wiggins was already getting everything prepared to enter North Carolina, but he is still listening to what Clemson and new secondary coach Mike ReedMike Reed
Defensive Backs Coach
View Full Profile have to say. I am going to make some calls tonight and see what has developed with his situation, but I'm still thinking Wiggins will be a Tar Heel.