5-star defensive end enjoys Clemson visit, says Clemson is a good fit

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Jul 09 00:33:16 GMT-04:00 2011

Five-star defensive end Jonathan Bullard Jonathan Bullard

Defensive Line

6-4, 250

Shelby, NC

View Full Profile spent almost five hours on the Clemson campus Friday, spending time with both coaches and players, and came away with the feeling he wants to come back for another visit in the fall.

The 6-5, 255-pounder out of Shelby (NC) Crest said he and his mother had a great visit.

“We got there at like ten this morning and we stayed until 2:30 or so,” Bullard told TigerNet Friday evening. “When we first got there, Coach [Jeff] Scott met us at the door and took us up to his office, and we sat in there and talked a little bit. Then [defensive coordinator Kevin] Coach Steele came in and took us on a tour.

“He showed my mom where the offices are, and where the players’ meeting rooms are, and the players’ lounge. After that, we went to Vickery Hall and we talked to the man there about grades and how my schedule would be the first year and when I would have to decide on a major.”

Following the tour, Bullard and his mom spent time with a 2011 Clemson signee – linebacker Stephone Anthony, who hails from Wadesboro, N.C.

“They have a Chili’s there on campus, and Stephone Anthony was there, and he went with us,” he said. “He talked to us about how he was liking his first week. After that, we went back to the WestZone and they took my mom on a tour of the rest of the football facilities like the locker room and the weight room.”

Next up was a trip to Howard’s Rock, and a Clemson history lesson.

“We went out to the rock, and he told us all about the tradition and how it came to be there,” Bullard said. “Then he told us about how the stadium came to be called Death Valley. We stood out there and talked awhile. This was the first time my mom really got to see the campus, and she really liked it.”

Bullard said his mother is friends with secondary coach Charlie Harbison, and she already has a good relationship with the Clemson coaching staff.

“Coach Harbison is from up that way,” Bullard said. “She is friends with Coach Harbison’s sister, so she knows him that way. We didn’t get to see Coach [Dan] Brooks today because he wasn’t there, but she likes all of the coaches. She has already met most of them, so she really likes Clemson.

“Coach Steele has come by the school to see me, and over time I have developed a good relationship with him. He is a good guy to hang with, and he knows what he wants to do. He wants to bring an ACC Championship back to Clemson, and he told me how I could be a part of that. He told me to buckle down and get ready.”

Bullard said he still wants to take a few visits before he makes his final decision.

“I am definitely going to go back to Clemson,” he said. “That is a great school, and I know it would be a good fit for me. But I want to go back to a few more places. I am interested in Clemson, but I don’t wanna commit until I sit down with my parents and cut my list down.”