Tigers move into top two for 4-star prospect

Hardman works out at Dabo Swinney's camp in June

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Oct 26 20:45:19 GMT-04:00 2014

One of the region’s top athletes for the 2016 recruiting cycle was on Clemson’s campus for the Tigers’ 16-6 win over Syracuse Saturday, and the visit allowed the Tigers to move into his top two.

Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman
Wide Receiver
5-11, 175
Elberton, GA
ESPN:
View Full Profile , a 4-star athlete out of Elberton (GA) Elbert County, stood on the sidelines during Clemson’s pregame and chatted with recruiter Tony ElliottTony Elliott
Assistant Coach / Running Backs
View Full Profile , and then took the time to talk to his cousin and Clemson running back Tyshon Dye.

Once the pregame festivities ended, Hardman took in the Tigers’ victory over the Orange.

“The defense and the secondary were lights out. The offense turned the ball over too much,” Hardman said. “They are missing Deshaun (Watson), and the playmaker that Deshaun can be. They are missing the quarterback that can distribute the ball to all of the playmakers that they have. They stuck together and held it together and got the win. “

The high-priority Clemson target has national offers from Charlotte, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB and Wisconsin.

Hardman said Elliott’s message was more about life and education than football.

“He was telling me about Clemson and about the academics and the education you get at Clemson,” Hardman said. “He was telling me about Clemson’s ranking and how it is one of the top public universities. Then he was telling me about the offense and what I could do in the offense. But it was more focusing on the education and life after football.”

So how did Hardman like the visit, and where do the Tigers stand?

“It was good. It was a great visit. Loved the atmosphere and the coaches,” Hardman said. “Everything was good. After the visit I had and the experience I had, they moved into my top two teams with Tennessee.”

Hardman said he should be able to begin practice this week (he suffered a knee injury earlier this season), and he also hopes to make a return trip to Clemson when the Tigers host South Carolina in late November.