Clemson in a good spot with Kentucky defensive tackle Lacey

Lacey and his family pose with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Fri Jun 09 09:50:24 GMT-04:00 2017

There’s a long time before National Signing Day 2019, but Clemson is in a good spot with Jacob Lacey and his family.

The 4-star 2019 Bowling Green (KY) South Warren defensive tackle participated in three days of Dabo Swinney’s high school camp this week and came away with a highly coveted offer.

When Lacey talked with defensive coordinator Brent Venables during the spring evaluation period, he was told an offer during camp was possible. To actually hear the words that he had a scholarship to play football for the defending national champions is still surreal.

“I was actually playing Swinney Ball and we were winning the game and about halfway through Coach Bates called me and my family over,” Lacey told TigerNet as he traveled home. “We talked for a little bit and then we walked over to Coach Swinney and we talked to him for a few minutes and he just sprung the news on me right then and there. I wasn't expecting it, but I was hopeful something like this would happen and when it did I just had a big ol' smile on my face. It was awesome.”

The 6-2, 300-pound prospect attended one of Clemson’s junior days during the spring so he was already familiar with the lay of the land, but his three-day trip afforded him the opportunity for time with Swinney and new defensive line coach Todd Bates.

“I've been to Clemson two times before so I've already seen the facilities and things and I know those are awesome. The main thing for me this visit was getting to meet and learn from Coach Bates,” Lacey said. “I wanted to see Coach Swinney and hear him talk. They were some of the most awesome coaches I've ever seen. Coach Bates was out there the whole time with everybody helping them learn new techniques. Coach Swinney was out there as well. At some places, the head coach doesn't come out until the last day to say a few words but he was out the whole time watching everything and helping out. That was really cool for me. The players there were some of the best people I've ever met. They're great football players but they're great people as well. That was a huge thing for me. The coaches were awesome.”

Even Lacey’s father, David, spent some one-on-one time with Clemson’s head coach.

“When I was playing Swinney Ball, he was riding around with him,” he said. “Seeing the head coach at Clemson with my dad was kind of surreal, it was great.”

Lacey also got a glimpse into life as a Clemson football player from two All-Americans.

“It was mainly the D-line corps. I hung out with Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence were some of them,” he said. “Those guys are great. They definitely know their football, but they know how to talk with you as well.”

After three days on campus, where does Clemson stand with Lacey and his family?

“They came up big time. Me and my dad were talking about it and Clemson is our type of people,” he said. “Everything about Clemson is 100-percent. My mom is a very picky person when it comes to schools because she's all about academics being a school teacher and Clemson sold her on that. She loves Clemson.”

Lacey has plans to visit Vanderbilt next week and to attend Stanford’s upcoming camp, but plans are already in the works for a return trip to Clemson during the season.