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Next Man Up- Offensive Tackle Recruiting and Notes
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Next Man Up- Offensive Tackle Recruiting and Notes


Jun 25, 2015, 6:50 PM

So, attrition shows it's ugly face yet again at Clemson. The one place the Tigers didn't want have minimal experience was on the offensive line. Like most of you, I wanted to see Mitch Hyatt groomed into the LT spot learning from Isaiah but we know now that he's gone. Time for Hyatt to step up and embrace the role he was bred to hold. I'm cautiously optimistic about the situation at hand but I'd add that out of all of our young bucks perhaps Hyatt is the one guy from an elite 2015 OL class that is capable of raising up into a huge role. Let's take a moment to see what else is out there and where we possibly stand. Also, what prospect does this knucklehead see minimal potential in? Let's start with some of the best-

Bryce Matthews (6-6 280) of Brentwood, TN is the first name I'd like to throw out there because I probably like him more than most pundits do. I especially like his pass blocking skills. 24/7.com has him as the #28 tackle in the nation but I'd like to see 27 tackles better than him. Matthews has visited Clemson before, during the CU vs SCar game, and had some positive takeaways from his trip to Tiger Town. While most feel it's down to Tennessee and Texas A&M, it wouldn't surprise me to see Clemson try and press for his services with the way things look now. Check him out- http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1392409/bryce-mathews

Sean Pollard (6-5 294)is planning on enrolling early and here's a quote I found interesting, "Could play Tackle or Guard and worked out at both at camp. He has good enough feet to play either, gets to the next level of the defense. Overall a top tier player in the region and wonderful early get for Clemson." Just throwing that out there and I'll say this about Pollard- he's the definition of underrated.

Recent Clemson commit Chandler Reeves (6-6 255) has stated his favorite food is steak and one can bet he'll get a healthy dose of protein while at Clemson to add some bulk. One thing to keep in mind is that during his sophomore year he was listed at 210 pounds. Now he's nearing the 260 range as a rising senior so who knows how much he'll add on in the next year. Chandler if you'd like to gain weight, head over to my house where it doesn't appear to be a problem for us.

E.J. Price is an enormous tackle who recently decommitted from UGA. I know a lot of pundits say it's a Michigan or Auburn lock but I don't study that too much. Let's not forget he had plenty of great things to say about us prior to the verbal to UGA. “One of the things that really stands out to me is that a lot of the coaching staff are graduates of Clemson. A lot of schools will tell you that they will take care of you once you graduate, but Clemson actually shows it and they show it that they have their guys in there." Price stated. If Dabo and crew wish to continue a trend of stellar offensive line classes, I'd look no further than pushing extremely hard for Price's services. Heck, I'd fly a plane with a Clemson banner trailing it over his house. I'll even foot the bill for it because hey, I'm All In. "Very athletic, can run, he's powerful but only scratching the surface of what he can do. "He's very athletic. He has a mean streak. He's like the prototype left tackle." says Price's coach Todd Wofford.
<###### width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/#####/BegwqzuMPYg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>


We've recently heard that we're a week away from Parker Boudreaux's decision and he's perhaps the hottest lineman commodity in this year's class. While he has played multiple spots on the line most have him as a guard but at 6'4 285, could he grow into a tackle? Tough for me to say but I'd note that he's still got a year of HS FB left and I really like his footwork. You simply won't find a better pulling guard in this class. Does that translate into being a tackle?- perhaps not but I bring it up because I don't see a lot that he isn't capable of. If he commits to Clemson, God as my witness, I'll stop taking my neighbors paper each morning and allowing my dog to leave coils on his lawn.


Landon Dickerson is another name to throw out there for sake of conversation cause he's visited and is interested in engineering. "I don't really have top schools. I have a few schools that stand out to me at the moment and those would be Virginia Tech, Tennessee and South Carolina."(from 3/12/15) I really won't speculate on our chances with him other than to add him to this list. He's received an invite to The Opening Camp and here's some footage- http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3337153/highlights/85112687

Mammoth recruit Richard Merritt (6-5 340) from Washington, DC holds a Clemson offer and is one of the highest rated tackles in the nation. I'd really like to see the Tigers push to get him on campus for a visit this summer or fall. Alabama and Florida State are said to be at the top of Merritt's list.

Alex Smith of Woodstock, GA is a 6'5 280 pounder who attended CU Junior Day, received an offer, and called us his leader. His team is run oriented but at that size with a year of HS left who knows where he could end up. Here's some film of Smith http://www.prepforce.com/video/6027/2016-ol-alex-smith-2013-season-highlights?AVS=04fbc40c2bde8247f9dd2053f13c9e65

Also among the Junior Day visitors was Adam Raschilla (6-6 307) of Northport, AL. He's the son of an Alabama volleyball coach who really wants an offer from the Tide. While he enjoyed his visit to Clemson, his only offer remains Samford.

Clemson recently made the Top 8 for lineman Tremayne Anchrum (6-4 275) of Powder Springs, GA. Anchrum has expressed interest in deciding on a school this summer and his list includes Clemson, UGA, Nebraska, Mizzou, VTech, Wake, BC, and Colorado. He's considering studying meteorology or "something involving nature." (I'm not making that up either)

Pete Leota (6-5 295) visited for the spring game, last seasons UofL game, and 2014 CDS Camp but doesn't have an offer. While he may not be highly rated I'll still throw his name in the hat regardless. The rising senior from Ashville, NC could be a developmental player with plenty of upside.

Javon Kinlaw (6-5 286) from Goose Creek High is a very raw offensive tackle prospect who has stated that he'd prefer to play defensive end. I don't know the chances of that happening though at Clemson- if he were to go that route. Sure, Kinlaw has some commendable ratings from various sites but I'd argue those rankings for several reasons. Below I will provide some footage of him and PLEASE tell me once during the film when he isn't the last one off the line. Kinlaw also continuously plays, fundamentally speaking, extremely high. I'd add that his footwork is spotty at best as he is not a natural runner. None of this, to me, appears to show that he'll play defense at the college level and he'll be a huge project on the offensive line. Having said that I've been wrong plenty of times before but atleast I'll go on record giving my opinion. During his film below, focus on the play around the 28 second mark. He's the last one off the line and his open field running is, well, laughable. (Note the flailing arms) <img border=">
<###### width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/#####/TYKK7rkSRq4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Now fast forward to Kinlaw's junior season highlights and you won't see any improvement, in my opinion. He still plays too high, is always the last one off the line, and I can see him getting dominated by better athletes at the collegiate level. When I watch his film I see a guy that uses his enormous size to overpower inferior athletes at the high school level. I just don't see how that translates into an successful offensive tackle prospect but again I've been wrong before. I think he'll look good in garnet and black.
<###### width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/#####/DxaeSc7L4V8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Lastly, here's a few guys we went after but took a different route. I'll provide this list just in case you're wondering, "Hey what ever happened to ___?" Clark Yarborough was one we definitely had high on our big boards but ultimately he decided to give a verbal to Stanford. Luke Elder falls under the same category as he recently gave a verbal to UNC- as did Jay Jay McCargo. Will Fries is another we offered but he's given a verbal to Penn State. Thomas Hopple of Suffolk, VA attended Clemson's Junior Day but committed to VT. Ben Cleveland of Georgia would've been a great pick up but ultimately he chose UGA. Also from Georgia, is Jack DeFoor who gave a verbal to Ole Miss.

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Here's the film link that didn't work previously


Jun 25, 2015, 7:00 PM

The Kinlaw film- at the :27 mark and you'll see he's the last off the line as well as seeing how open field running does not look natural to him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYKK7rkSRq4


Junior Film with no improvement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxaeSc7L4V8


For the life of me I don't quite understand why the links didn't work the first time.

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Re: Here's the film link that didn't work previously


Jun 25, 2015, 7:30 PM

I don't miss any Goose Creek games and your take on Kinlaw is spot on. He is constantly last off the line and hence always out of position. over runs plays almost always and unless going up against a smaller player is always overmatched at the line. I don't see him being anything but a guy to give someone a breather at the next level

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