Hanna tight end expects Clemson offer soon

by TigerNet Staff - Fri Feb 25 11:46:57 GMT-04:00 2011

T.L. Hanna tight end Justin Meredith has heard from all of the big schools, and boasts offers from nine of them, a list that will continue to grow.

And his next offer could be the one he’s been waiting for.

Meredith grew up as a fan of the Clemson Tigers, just up the highway from Anderson, and said that after speaking with new offensive coordinator Chad Morris, he expects an offer to be on its way.

“After talking to coach Morris on Tuesday, I honestly can say I feel like an offer is coming,” Meredith told TigerNet. “Why they haven’t offered yet, I don’t know, especially with me being just 15 minutes away. But they make the decisions they have to make based on the offense and needs. But I do feel like an offer will eventually come.”

Meredith caught 24 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore, and caught 20 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns in Hanna's ground-attack offense as a junior.

The 6-5, 228-pounder has offers from LSU, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, N.C. State, Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland and Cincinnati, and said that he has taken visits to several other schools.

“A lot of people are getting this idea that as soon as Clemson offers I will sign there, and I’m not saying I won’t,” he said. “But going to those other places kind of opened my eyes. I only saw Clemson my whole life, and now I can see what the other schools I am considering have to offer.”

Hanna head coach Kenya Fouch said that while the Tigers haven’t offered, they have been a steady presence around Meredith for the past year.

“He is hearing from Clemson, and he grew up a Clemson fan,” Fouch said. “But the bottom line is need, and if Clemson feels more comfortable in their tight end situation they may offer him. Or they may not. It just depends on what people see on film. But he has to look at his options and have his family look at those options and make a decision based on that. But I would imagine they [Clemson] eventually will offer him.

“He is a tall, athletic kid that can run strong. He is 330 or 340 on the bench press right now, and he is a very good student. He has a very good family background, and his dad is retired military. He is a pleasant kid, and a very good football player. The momentum is starting to build for him, and LSU is really making a push. He has some offers from some really good programs.”

Meredith said that the activity started to pick up after National Signing Day earlier this month.

“It has gone to a different level,” he said. “It can get a little overwhelming, but it’s a good experience and I am enjoying every second of it. I like the attention. This is a fun time.”

And the visits are just a part of the process, and he is looking forward to finally sitting down with Morris on his next Clemson visit.

“I’ve taken a bunch,” he said. “I’ve been to Clemson, South Carolina, UNC, Duke, N.C. State, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and I was at Florida’s Junior Day. I am going to Clemson’s Junior Day, and I am going to sit down with Coach Morris. He wants to sit down with me and talk to me about the offense and how I could fit in.

“I’ve developed a really good relationship with [Alabama recruiter] Burton Burns, but I think they have concerns on how I would fit into a pro-style offense, because they are looking for those big, blocking tight ends. A lot of people have told me that even though I’ve gained up to 228, that I am more of a spread tight end. So I’m anxious to talk to Coach Morris and see what he says.”

The junior said that he just needs to make sure he keeps his newly-opened eyes open for the remainder of the process.

“I’ve been to Clemson, and I know what they have to offer,” he said. “I love the campus and I love the coaching staff. But there are a lot of places I could see myself going to. Each place has good things, and you don’t see a lot of the bad things because they try to put on a show for you. Everything is good when you are there. But everything I have seen is very impressive, which makes my decision a lot harder.”