Hopper says visits are just part of the recruiting process

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon May 02 20:43:29 GMT-04:00 2011

Germone Hopper Germone Hopper
Athlete
6-0, 175
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile wants to be a Clemson Tiger, pure and simple.

However, he also wants to be a teenager and take advantage of the recruiting process, just not at the expense of losing his Clemson offer.

The Charlotte (NC) Berry Academy wide receiver committed to Clemson last month, and boasts offers from 14 different universities, including an offer received from Miami (Fla.) last week. Hopper said at that time he would love to take an official visit to see what the Hurricanes are all about – but wants to make sure he doesn’t do anything to jeopardize his Clemson offer first.

“My mom and I, we are going to talk with Coach Pearman [Danny Pearman, Hopper’s recruiter], Coach [Dabo] Swinney and Coach [Jeff] Scott,” Hopper told TigerNet Monday afternoon. “We want to talk to them about and hopefully they will understand where I am coming from. My mom wants me to go to Clemson, and that is my choice as well.”

Hopper said that Clemson coaches told him – before he committed and after – that they didn’t want prospects taking visits after they had committed.

“I don’t want there to be any hard feelings or anything like that,” he said. “They have the All In thing, and they told me they didn’t want me to take any more visits. I just don’t want anybody to take anything personal, but you know how the recruiting process is. I just want to make sure Clemson is the place for me. But I don’t want to take a visit on bad terms, and it turn into a Marlin Lane type of situation. I don’t want it to get to that level.”

Hopper said he wants the coaches to see it from the perspective of a teenager.

“I just feel like, with me being a kid, and coming from a kid’s perspective, you only get to go through this process one time,” he said. “I want to get that enjoyment of taking official visits and going through that process. When I committed, I knew even then I wanted to see other schools and go on other visits and make sure that Clemson is the best fit for me. Just to make sure my choice is confirmed.”

Hopper rushed for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 540 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,202 yards, 23 touchdowns and caught 483 yards and touchdowns. He also had 844 return yards in returning two kickoffs and two punts for scores.

He runs a 4.48 second 40-yard dash, and said he thinks his speed is perfect for Chad Morris’ offense, just adding to the reasons he wants to be a Tiger.

“I have known since I was little that I wanted to go to Clemson,” he said. “It is the perfect school and the perfect situation for me. And like I said, my mom loves Clemson just like I do. But she told me she wanted to go to some different places and take the visits just to make sure. Just to make sure that I don’t have any regrets.”