Four-star OL commit says Clemson's 2020 class will be the best in the nation

Mayes says Clemson's 2020 class will be the best in the nation

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Tue Mar 12 06:01:03 GMT-04:00 2019

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney always likes to say, ‘The best is yet to come,’ and the Tigers newest commit can’t help but agree.

Four-star Raleigh (NC) Leesville Road offensive lineman Mitchell Mayes attended last weekend’s junior day and announced his commitment to Clemson Monday evening via Twitter. He is the No. 18 overall player in the ESPNJR 300, the eighth commit in Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class and the fourth offensive lineman, joining Walker Parks, Paul Tchio and John Williams. All four offensive linemen are 4-stars.

Mayes has made the recruiting rounds, including stops at North Carolina, N.C. State, and Auburn among others, but it was his visit to Clemson in January that set the Tigers apart and the return trip sealed the deal.

“I've known I wanted to go to Clemson since the Elite Junior Day visit,” Mayes told TigerNet shortly after announcing his commitment. “That visit was spectacular. Everything was over the top, and they solidified as my number one all the way back then. I just felt like it (the decision) was easy. I didn't want a spot to get taken up, and I couldn't pass up such a great opportunity to be a Clemson Tiger.”

The 6-5, 315-pound prospect told offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell the news on Sunday and an ecstatic Swinney Monday afternoon.

“I told Coach Caldwell yesterday, and I had a call with Coach Swinney around 12 o'clock today,” Mayes said. “Coach Caldwell was excited. He said he was to do backflips. He was ready for me to join because he thinks I will be a special player in their offense. Coach Swinney was excited as well. He was ready.”

It was the genuineness of the coaching staff that put Clemson above his 19 other suitors.

“A lot of the college recruiting is fake, and a lot of people aren't what they really say they are and Clemson has been real forever,” he said. “They've always been real, and people realize. The best want to be there.”

Mayes decided to commit to Clemson on his own, but his family – especially his mother – is 100-percent behind him.

“This was my mom's number one choice from the jump,” he said. “She never told me because she didn't want to be biased. She only told me after I made the decision. My dad really liked the decision too. My sister is comfortable there. It was a great decision.”

Clemson may have the fourth overall class in the nation according to Rivals and 247, but Mayes says the best is still yet to come.

"We're going to be the number one recruiting class in the nation," he said. "We'll be the best offensive line in the nation. We'll be the best class in the nation, no doubt. I've been in a group chat with all of them (D.J. Uiagalelei, Bryn Tucker and Bryan Bresee) and the commits, so I talk to them. It's not just football."