Swinney and Elliott check in on McCloud

McCloud was on campus for Clemson's game against UNC

by TigerNet Staff - Sat Dec 06 08:01:02 GMT-04:00 2014

Members of the Clemson coaching staff have been in the Tampa area over the past few days, and head coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile and newly-minted offensive coordinator Tony Elliott Tony Elliott
Assistant Coach / Running Backs
View Full Profile stopped in to see talented 5-star commit Ray-Ray McCloud Thursday evening.

The purpose of the visit? Not to talk football or recruiting, but to just hang out.

TigerNet spoke with Ray McCloud, Jr., following the visit, and he said that it was to get away from football even with coaches in the house.

“We didn’t really talk about anything. We just hung out,” McCloud said. “It was Coach Swinney and Coach Elliott and Ray and me and my wife. We didn’t really talk about football. We just talked about life and our families and things like that.”

Former offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile took over as head coach at SMU earlier this week, and Swinney promoted Jeff ScottJeff Scott
Asst. Coach (WR) / Recruiting Coord.
View Full Profile and Elliott as co-offensive coordinators. McCloud said he was happy to see the move because of the relationship his family has had with Elliott for a number of years.

“Tony recruited my nephew Hank McCloud to Furman,” McCloud. “I have known him for a long time, for really the last four years. I think they will both do a good job, and I am glad to see them promote from within the organization. Tony is a good guy, really down to earth and a spiritual guy. He’s the kind of guy you aren’t afraid to leave your kids with. Those kinds of relationships go deeper than just Clemson. And he is really smart. Very detail oriented.”

McCloud said the coaches envision his son playing all over the field.

“They see him playing him both wide receiver and running back,” he said. “They see him on special teams, and Dabo even mentioned one time that we could see him at defensive back. You never know. I think they will use him kind of like they do Tay (Artavis Scott) now. Ray can run off tackle and he is perfect for that offense.”

McCloud said that seeing the damage Scott did to South Carolina last Saturday shows him that his son made the right choice.

“I’ve been seeing Tay do that for a long time,” he said. “They are the same kind of athlete, and I know Coach Elliott is excited to see him at Clemson. In high school, he has always had to run the power and he has had to run against nine, 10 and 11 in the box. I am excited to see what he can do with some running room. He rushes for 2,000 yards every day with 11 in the box, so I am excited to see him in space. Especially with Deshaun (Watson) in the game. I am excited to see Ray in the offense – and not because he is my son but I am a recruiter and I deal with a lot of kids – and as long as he is healthy he is going to do big things.”

This past season, McCloud rushed for 1,995 yards and 19 touchdowns.