Four-star OL wraps up a "great, great visit" to Clemson

Tarquin says Clemson made a lasting impression Friday

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Jun 10 18:21:09 GMT-04:00 2017

One of Florida’s top offensive linemen for the 2019 recruiting cycle picked up a Clemson offer last month, and he made it a priority to make it to Clemson’s campus. Michael Tarquin of Belleview (FL) made that visit Friday and came away impressed with Clemson’s family atmosphere.

The 6-5, 290-pounder arrived at Clemson with his parents and sister before lunch and departed in the early evening.

“It was a great, great visit. I spent the whole day there,” Tarquin told TigerNet. “I got to talk to Coach (Dabo) Swinney and meet all of the other coaches. I spent the whole day with offensive line Coach (Robbie) Caldwell and saw the whole facility. I went to the stadium and met with one of the academic advisers and saw the whole campus.”

Tarquin said spending time with Clemson’s head coach was one of the highlights.

“It was good to talk to Coach Swinney,” he said. “It was good to hear what he believes - well really what he knows - and to hear what he's all about and what Clemson is all about. It was really good to hear.”

Tarquin boasts offers from as far away as Arizona St. and Michigan while reeling in offers from many of the top programs from around the region, including Auburn, Florida St., Miami, Tennessee, and Clemson.

Tarquin said Clemson’s facilities are impressive, but he came away more impressed with the people that Swinney has in the program.

His family feels the same way.

“Obviously, they play great football at Clemson, and they have great facilities,” he said. “But it's really the people they have at Clemson. I thought to get to know Coach Caldwell a little more, getting to know Coach Swinney and then my family getting to know the coaches a little more was the biggest thing.

“My family is extremely impressed, just like me. The locker rooms are really nice.”

Tarquin spent Saturday in Columbia visiting South Carolina and has plans to visit Michigan, Ohio St., and Miami later this summer.

However, the Tigers have made a lasting impression.

“Clemson is high on the list,” he said. “My sister says I should go there.”