Latest running back offer has Tigers in top three

As a junior, Mangus rushed for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun May 15 22:22:40 GMT-04:00 2011

Running Back

5-11, 170

Raleigh, NC

View Full Profile grew up in the heartland of North Carolina, but didn’t start following college football until a few years ago.

And when he turned on the television to catch a game, he didn’t turn it on to watch N.C. State, North Carolina or Duke. Instead, he turned it on to watch the Clemson Tigers, just so he could watch two players that had rapidly caught his attention.

“I loved C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford,” the 2012 Raleigh (N.C.) Broughton running back prospect told TigerNet Sunday afternoon. “They were speed guys who were also football players, and they just made plays. I like to see players make plays using their speed like that.”

The 5-11, 177-pounder likes to use his speed the same way, so it’s no surprise that he has picked up nine verbal offers since January, including one from Clemson late last week. He also claims offers from Notre Dame, North Carolina State, Duke, Memphis, Minnesota, Wake Forest and Virginia.

Like Spiller and Ford, Mangus also runs track, where he competes in the 100, 4x2, 4x4 and the 400, and he said he probably runs the 40-yard dash in “either a high 4.3 or very low 4.4 right now.”

With that in mind, Clemson recruiter Robbie Caldwell stopped by Broughton last week to check in on Mangus, took his game tapes back to Clemson, and made sure the two connected late in the week.

“Coach Caldwell told me they were fired up about me,” Mangus said. “He said he took the highlight tape back to the other coaches, and when they all watched it he said they were fired up. So he had me call him, and he said they wanted to offer me. So they offered, and I am just blessed and honored. Actually, I like Clemson a lot. They have great academics; great football and they have players make it to the NFL.”

Mangus said he didn’t want to name a true leader at this point in the recruiting process, but he is definitely high on the Tigers.

“Right now, I would have to say they are at the top somewhere,” he said. “They are definitely in the top three. I don’t want to say they are the top one yet, but they are up there. Clemson and Notre Dame.”

He visited Clemson in the spring, and said he fell in love with the facilities, and wants to visit Notre Dame and Virginia before the summer is over.

“Clemson and Notre Dame both have fast-paced offenses that are pretty balanced,” he said. “That is the kind of offense I like. I like to run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield, and then get handoffs on end-arounds.”

As a junior, Mangus rushed for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns, and also had 300 yards receiving with two scores.