Commit says Clemson's 2018 class can be 'very scary'

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Sat Dec 16 08:01:02 GMT-04:00 2017

Back to 100 percent health-wise, Braden Galloway says he’s excited to enroll early and make an impact as one part in an elite Clemson 2018 group.

“I feel like we can accomplish anything we want to as long as everybody keeps their head on straight,” the Tigers tight end commit said, “and we stay humble and go in and work and not focus about what this year's team is doing or last year's team. Just focus and go to work. I feel like this class can be very scary.”

Up until last year, the 6-foot-6 target was more known for his basketball skills, but after one season at Seneca, Galloway earned an offer this spring from NC State and committed to Clemson after an early April offer. Coming off a foot injury in his senior season, Galloway said the Tiger coaches want him in prime condition because his athleticism brings another element to the Clemson tight end group.

The Seneca (S.C.) product joins two five-star skill position commits on the offensive side in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Derion Kendrick, and with a strong possibility – in his estimation – of a few more five stars to come from prospects such as offensive tackle Cade Mays, wide receiver Justyn Ross and defensive end K.J. Henry. That’s a credit to the Clemson coaching staff, says Galloway.

“I feel like Clemson always has a chance with anybody because of how the coaches are,” Galloway said. “The coaches are real. They're not going to tell you something and when you get here – switch. You can just feel the vibe that they're just going to be the same. Yeah, they're going to get on you like any coaching staff, but you just feel like you know how they're going to be before you decide to commit.”

Galloway says he’s built a strong bond with tight ends coach Danny Pearman along the way.

“Our relationship has grown fast,” Galloway said. “I can already tell he's somebody I can always go to and be glad that he's going to be coaching me the next four years. It's exciting.”

Galloway, who played quarterback this season for Seneca, suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot early in the season. After surgery, rest and rehab, he returned for one game midseason, but shut down his season after feeling pain in the foot again.

That decision is paying off now, Galloway said, in his return to full workouts in the last few weeks.

“I took like a whole extra month off and I feel like that benefited me a lot,” he said. “Just because it's like a mental thing. I know I'm taking an extra month off when I could have been out there playing. I feel confident out there (now) and I'm not favoring it and not worrying if it's going to break or not. I'm confident when I'm out there running.

“That's one of the main reasons I waited so long. When I get to Clemson in January, I don't want to be thinking if my foot is going to break. I want to just be full speed in everything."

Making up for lost time, Galloway says he’s focused on building strength in his legs, as well as agility, route-running and catching.

Outside of workouts, he will be keeping track of Clemson’s close to the 2018 recruiting class. Galloway has been on hand for a number of games this season while other top prospects have been in town – he says Clemson doesn’t need much help from commits to sell the program.

“There's nothing we tell them that they won't see for themselves,” he said. “They're going to see how the coaches act. How they're asked (by fans) for autographs even if they're not committed or anything. That just makes it special... It's exciting getting to talk to those guys who aren't committed because it's like a chase and you're trying to get them to come here before their signing. It's fun.”