CLEMSON RECRUITING

Four-star wide receiver ends the Chase, commits to Clemson
Chase at Saturday's basketball game

Four-star wide receiver ends the Chase, commits to Clemson


by - Staff Writer -

Clemson’s Elite Junior Day paid big dividends for the Clemson coaching staff Saturday afternoon when 2016 4-star wide receiver T.J. Chase T.J. Chase
Athlete
6-2, 175
Plant City, FL

ESPN:
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committed to the Tigers.

Chase, out of Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, becomes the fourth commitment for the Tigers’ 2016 recruiting cycle, joining quarterback Zerrick CooperZerrick Cooper
Quarterback
6-4, 200
Jonesboro, GA

ESPN:
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, tight end J.C. ChalkJ.C. Chalk
Tight End
6-4, 221
Argyle, TX

ESPN:
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and offensive guard Sean PollardSean Pollard
Offensive Guard
6-5, 295
Southern Pines, NC

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. Chase boasts 25-plus offers including Alabama, Auburn, Ohio St. and Florida St.

Chase is ranked as the nation’s No. 128 prospect in the ESPN Junior 300.

Recently, Chase had listed the schools he was most interested in as Florida St., Clemson, Florida, Miami and Georgia. However, his relationship with co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Jeff ScottJeff Scott
Asst. Coach (WR) / Recruiting Coord.
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made the difference.

“This is my second time up there. I came to the South Carolina game and it was really nice,” Chase told TigerNet shortly after his commitment. “The relationship that I've built with Coach Scott is just unbelievable. I came up for junior day and we went to the basketball game and I told my granddad and dad that this would be the place that I would be committing. They told me that if this was the place for me then I could do it. I told Coach Scott and he said that he wanted me to talk to Coach Swinney at the end, so I told Coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
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that I was, 'All in."

He said Swinney was excited to hear the news.

“Coach Swinney was fired up about that. He's just ready for me to get up there,” Chase said.

Clemson’s family atmosphere also sets the Tigers apart.

“It's the passion that they have. When I came up there, it was just the confidence that Coach Swinney has and the confidence Coach Scott has when he is recruiting me,” Chase said. “The stuff that they say about Clemson - I did some research on Clemson during this process - and what they say about Clemson is really what Clemson is. It's not like other schools where they say this and that. Coach Swinney and Coach Scott, what they say is really how it is. There is a real family atmosphere up there and it's really nice”

His family is also on board with the decision.

“They feel like this is the place for me, too,” he said. “From an academic standpoint, they're going to make sure that everything is good. When we did the tour and stuff and we toured Vickery Hall, they were just shaking their heads like they liked the way they were talking.”

Chase made the trip to Clemson Saturday with two IMG teammates – 5-star defensive back Saivion SmithSaivion Smith
Athlete
6-2, 175
St. Petersburg, FL

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and 5-star defensive end Rahshaun SmithRahshaun Smith
Defensive End
6-3, 230
Towson, MD

ESPN:
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– and he said he is going to do his best to make sure his teammates are a part of Clemson’s 2016 class.

“I’m going to try my hardest (to recruit them). We've got to get things going,” Chase said.

As a junior at IMG, he caught 25 passes for 521 yards and five touchdowns.

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