Elite OL has Clemson in top three as decision nears

Mathews said a decision could come as early as next week

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Sun Jul 19 13:41:11 GMT-04:00 2015

Bryce Mathews Bryce Mathews
Offensive Tackle
6-6, 275
Brentwood, TN
ESPN:
View Full Profile didn’t make his first visit to Clemson until April, but as his recruitment begins to wind down the Tigers are firmly planted in his top three.

The Brentwood (TN) Brentwood Academy 4-star offensive lineman traveled to Clemson with his family for Friday night’s All In Cookout and came away just as impressed as he did after his first visit.

Mathews told TigerNet that as he nears a decision the Cookout and the visit left a lasting impression.

“It was a great trip and a great experience. We got to spend a lot of time with the coaches and the players and meet a lot of people,” Mathews told TigerNet Saturday evening. “I think we all had a really good time. This was my second time going to Clemson. After the first trip, I left with a good first impression. I wanted to take a second trip to see how it followed up and I left with the same impression as I did the first time. I would definitely say that Clemson is one of my top two or three schools right now and someone that I'm really giving a hard look to.”

While the highlight for most was seeing Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile attempt to do “The Whip,” Mathews said the best part of the evening was getting to spend time with his position coach, Robbie CaldwellRobbie Caldwell
Assistant Coach / Offensive Line
View Full Profile .

“It's kind of hard to top Coach Swinney dancing,” Mathews said. “Before the cookout, I got to spend some one-on-one time with Coach Caldwell and that was a really good experience for me to just be able to sit down with him and talk. I've never been able to talk to him one-on-one without the family around, so that was a really good experience.”

Many recruits liken Caldwell to their grandfathers because of his laidback personality and Mathews was no different.

“You can't help but just like him,” he said. “I think he just seems like country folk and he seems really homey. I met his wife at the cookout and she's the same way. I don't know how to describe it. They're just likable people.”

The 6-6, 275-pounder was also able to spend time with several of Clemson’s current offensive linemen.

“I met a lot of them. It was definitely fun to hang out with them and see how they all get along,” he said. “It seems like a good group of guys and it would be fun to play with them at some point.”

Mathews has 11 offers from across the Southeast but said he’s narrowed it down to just three schools and a decision could come within the next week or so.

“I never officially released a top-three, but I guess it would be Clemson, Tennessee and Ole Miss,” he said. “I could end up making a decision as soon as next week. I just have to make sure that it's 100-percent what I want to do and don't have any doubts going into that decision. If it all lines up right after lots of prayer and talking to other people, it could be next weekend. The visit to Clemson was the last one I had planned.”

So, what has Clemson in his top three?

“I would say the family atmosphere and the Christ-like element that Coach Swinney has with program because you don't see that with every program in college football, so it has a gravitational factor to it,” he said.