A.J. Terrell has Tigers in final three, sets possible decision date

Terrell could make his decision as early as Sept. 23rd

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Aug 8, 2016, 7:01 AM

The nation’s top-ranked cornerback for the 2017 recruiting cycle has Clemson in his final three, and he could be close to a decision.

Five-star prospect A.J. Terrell out of Atlanta (GA) Westlake was back on Clemson’s campus for the second time in two weeks this past weekend, and he took in the Tigers’ first practice in full pads. He left campus knowing that Clemson had made his final three.

Terrell visited with his dad and little brother and watched the Tigers go through an entire practice session, and he spent time watching secondary coach Mike Reed put his group through drills.

“It went good. I was able to watch a full-pads practice. I just wanted to watch the practice and see how it looked,” Terrell said Sunday. “It looked good. It was the first day in pads, so everybody looked a little shaky, but they'll get a little better. They got after it in the Paw Drill. I watched Coach (Mike) Reed. He was doing a lot of drills that I can compare to with my defensive backs coach. I liked how they were going through the footwork and technique drills and how he was teaching it.”

Terrell also spent time talking to many of Clemson’s coaches.

“I got to talk to Coach Brent Venables, Coach Dabo Swinney and Coach Mike Reed,” he said. “They were just happy that I came up there to watch a practice to see where I could fit in and help the team in a couple of years. They would love for me to commit, but I'm still taking my time and making sure I pick the right school.”

Terrell and his family have also spent time in Columbia recently for a visit with South Carolina and secondary coach Travaris Robinson.

“I went to South Carolina just to look at the campus and all of that. I got to see some stuff with Coach T Rob. It was really good,” Terrell said. “I didn't really get to see much outside of the athletic facility. I got to see some of the education part, the athletic part, the dorms, the campus. I saw Coach T Rob talk to the defensive backs. They did get back in the mix after that visit because they did impress me a lot.

Both the Gamecocks and Tigers have made his final three, and those two plus Florida might learn of his decision late in September.

“Right now, it's Florida, Clemson and South Carolina. It's just those three,” he said. “I don't have a leader or a favorite right now. I might commit on September 23rd, but it really could be anytime - before or after. I'm just taking my time. Right now, I don't have any visits coming up. The only one was Clemson and with the school year starting my summer visits are over.”

Terrell is rated by Rivals as the nation’s top corner, and he is the number eight player overall regardless of position.

He has national offers from Alabama, Auburn, Charlotte, Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Troy, USC and Virginia Tech.