Clemson recruiting stays hot, adds 10th commitment in LB Burrell

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Jun 16 23:47:48 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – T.J. Burrell T.J. Burrell
Linebacker
6-1, 195
Goose Creek, SC
View Full Profile took a look at the all of the big-time recruits Clemson was bringing in for the 2012 season, and decided it was something he wanted to be a part of.

As a result, the 3-star linebacker out of Goose Creek called recruiter Tony Elliott, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney late Friday to tell them that he wanted to be a Clemson Tiger.

“Clemson is a place I fell in love with from the beginning,” Burrell told TigerNet. “I love the campus, and I love the coaching staff they have there. They are building a championship team there, and that is something I talked to Coach Swinney about. I definitely see that, and I always tell people that. We are a team to look out for in the long run. They will see.”

Burrell said the conversation with Swinney was short and to the point.

“He told me he was ready for me to be a Tiger, and I told him so was I,” he said.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder said the decision to commit was an easy one.

“I am already in love with the school, so I wanted to go ahead and make the decision,” he said. “This way, I can focus on my books, and focus on my game this year. That way, I can bring my true student-athlete to Clemson.”

Burrell chose the Tigers over Duke, East Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, and is the 10th commitment of the 2012 class.

He lacks the size of a true strongside linebacker on the collegiate level, but has the kind of speed and pursuit ability that defensive coordinators love when trying to defend the spread offense. He could play either linebacker or safety on the collegiate level.

His commitment is the sixth in just over a week for Swinney and the Tigers, joining Travis Blanks, Ronnie Geohaghan, Bradley Pinion, Cordrea Tankersley and Chad Kelly. Jay Guillermo, Patrick DeStefano and Germone Hopper were the earlier commitments.

As a junior, he had 97 tackles and two interceptions.

2012 F O O T B A L L C O M M I T S
Name	POS	HT, WT	Hometown (School)
Travis Blanks	DB	6-1 180	Tallahassee, FL (North Florida Christian HS)
T.J. Burrell	LB	6-1 195	Goose Creek, SC (Goose Creek HS)
Patrick DeStefano	OL	6-4 275	Roebuck, SC (Dorman HS)
Ronnie Geohaghan	S	6-0 185	Fairfax, SC (Allendale Fairfax HS)
Jay Guillermo	OL	6-3 285	Maryville, TN (Maryville HS)
Germone Hopper	ATH	6-0 175	Charlotte, NC (Phillip Berry Academy)
Chad Kelly	QB	6-2 205	Buffalo, NY (St Joseph's Collegiate Inst)
Shaquille Lawson	DL	6-4 240	Central, SC (Daniel HS)
Bradley Pinion	K	6-6 220	Concord, NC (Northwest Cabarrus HS)
Cordrea Tankersley	ATH	6-2 195	Aiken, SC (Silver Bluff HS)