Virginia Tech's loss is Clemson's gain with newest commitment

McFadden walks the sidelines before Clemson's home finale against The Citadel

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun Dec 10 07:01:02 GMT-04:00 2017

Virginia Tech’s loss is Clemson’s gain.

Three-star and 2018 offensive lineman Jordan McFadden flipped from Virginia Tech to Clemson Saturday night, becoming the 12th commitment in Clemson’s 2018 recruiting class. McFadden had been a Virginia Tech commitment since July 4, but after an early August Clemson offer, he had been trending the Tigers' way. McFadden made an official visit for The Citadel game on Nov. 18.

McFadden is a 3-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite rankings and the first offensive lineman in the 2018 Clemson class.

McFadden told TigerNet he gave his silent verbal to the coaches a few weeks ago.

“It kind of happened a couple of weeks ago. I talked to Coach (Dabo) Swinney about everything,” McFadden said. “It was a little bit after my official visit. It came after talking to the coaches and realizing I grew up wanting to Clemson and that was the school that I had my eyes on since I was little, and having the opportunity to play there, I don't think I could just pass that up.”

McFadden decided to release the news Saturday to take some of the pressure off of the recruiting process.

“I wanted to get it over with, I guess,” he said. “Recruiting has been kind of hectic the last couple months or so. I just wanted it to be done.”

McFadden said that the Virginia Tech coaching staff wasn’t pleased with his change of heart.

“I told them not too long ago. I mean, they took it kind of hard,” he said. “They weren't really rude I'd say, but I could tell that they definitely didn’t like it. I mean, it's all fine.”

McFadden injured his knee in the state championship game, and hopes to be healthy sooner rather than later.

“I got my MRI Friday, but I haven't gotten the results back. Hopefully, it's nothing bad, but it's feeling a lot better,” McFadden said of the possible MCL tear. My goal is to get healthy.”

He said that he will likely send in his paperwork during the first signing period on Dec. 20th and enroll in school next June, and he said he can’t wait to get the same feeling he felt on his official visit.

“Just hanging out with the football players and just them telling me how things are daily,” McFadden said. “On the visit, I was talking to the coaches about how they think I can come in and play early and just how on the academic side, how I can get a good education at Clemson, how it could really prepare me for it, life after football. I made the right decision.”