Plyler: Big Clemson Recruiting Weekend A Success

by TigerNet Staff - Mon Jan 13 02:29:22 GMT-04:00 2003

* Listen to "Plyler on Sports" weekdays 4-7PM on 1070AM in Upstate SC. Also Listen to the Logan Roadhouse's Sunday Night Recruiting Show with Mickey Plyler every Sunday night from 7 to 9 on 1070AM and 103.1 FM in Upstate SC. * How did the Tigers do this weekend? PLYLER: "I think they did extremely well. They set themselves up with what should be a busy January with all the in home visits. They made up a lot of ground with Syvelle Newton, Eric Young and some of the instate guys and even Marcus Howard and some like that. They came out good with Phillip Brown which is good for them. They got Christian Capote firmed up. They made a really big impression with a lot of kids. The got back in the game with Noah Whiteside, Terrell Allen and Tremaine Billie who who had committed elsewhere. Just from the early signs I think they’ve got runners in scoring position. They just need to knock in some runs." How do the coaches capitalize on this good weekend? PLYLER: "A lot depends on the in home visits when Coach Bowden and staff go back in. I think that is by their design because of the weekend being so early in the recruiting process a lot of these kids are still going to be recruited very heavily. Even if they had committed you still have to hold on to them. But now what they have to do is go in the home and reiterate what was said during the weekend. Everything is set for the last few weeks and a lot will depend on the in home visits in my opinion." Who are the top three prospects left out there for the Tigers? PLYLER: "Eric Young is still going to be one of the biggest ones. Another offensive lineman like David Overmyer or Woodley Telfort or Mario Henderson would be awfully big. Tony McDaniel would be nice. Clemson needs linebackers so Maurice Nelson, Marcus Howard and Nick Watkins. I think you can never have enough corners. Phillip Brown at corner is one of the biggest stories of the weekend. If they can go in and firm it that up they would be doing well." Review of this weekend's visits: 1 WR Terrell Allen 6-0 185 Byrnes (SC #11) Good visit. Will decide between Clemson and Pittsburgh. 2 ATH C.J. Gaddis* 6-1 197 Raeford, NC Says he had a great trip and is a solid commitment to the Tigers. May visit GA but not sure.
3 LB Marcus Howard 6-2 210 Hanahan (SC #4) Leaning to Clemson but goes to GA next week. 4 LB Maurice Nelson 6-2 205 Crestwood (SC #7) Had a good visit. Leaning to the Tigers but didn't commit. Will visit SC, MD, and GA. Clemson Assistant Rick Stockstill and Tommy Bowden in the home Wednesday. 5 RB Andre Calendar 6-0 190 West Orange, NJ Had a good visit. Did not commit and will continue with trips. He has been to Wake Forest and Clemson and will now visit Boston College and Michigan State. No favorite.
6 DB Keenan Little 6-1 183 Shelby, NC Good visit will continue with trips. 7 ATH Sergio Gilliam* 6-3 175 Greer (SC #14) Solid Clemson commitment. No other trips. 8 QB Syvelle Newton 6-2 212 Marlboro Co (SC #3) Good visit. Says it is 50-50 between Clemson and SC. 9 LB Dominic Cooper 6-4 213 New Orleans, LA Good visit. Going to continue with trips. 10 RB Rodney Kinlaw 5-10 180 Stratford (SC #9) Good trip. Says it will come down to Clemson and Penn State. 11 OL Clint LaTray* 6-3 285 Allen, TX Solid Clemson Commitment. Will take no other visits. 12 OL David Overmyer 6-4 270 Lilburn, GA Good trip. Continue with trips. Top three is Clemson, FSU, SC in no order. 13 OL Marion Dukes* 6-4 290 Pickens, SC (SC #8) Says he had a great trip and is a solid Clemson commitment. Will take no more trips. 14 RB Tramaine Billie 6-1 190 Dreher (SC #10) Good visit. Says it is 50-50 between Clemson and SC. 15 PK Jad Dean* 5-11 190 Greenwood (SC #19) Great trip and is a solid Clemson commitment. He has canceled a visit to FSU next week.
16 OL Christian Capote 6-5 291 Miami Committed. 17 DE Kwam Williams 6-4 225 Atlanta Clemson has not offered yet but he is leaning to the Tigers. 18 OL Brandon Pilgrim* 6-5 280 Lilburn, GA Great trip and is a solid Clemson commitment. No more trips.
19 DE Darryl Melvin 6-5 240 Nassau JC Did not show up. 20 WR Chris Jefferson 6-2 170 Morganton, NC Great trip and now leaning to Clemson. Could have a decision on Monday. 21 WR Brandon Allen 6-5 190 Atlanta, GA Now leaning to Clemson but no offer from the Tigers at this point. His top three are Clemson, Georgia Tech and Troy State. 22 RB Brandon Nolen 5-11 185 Old Bridge, NJ Good trip but will continue with visits. 23 OL Woodly Telfort 6-8 310 Dodge City, KS Good trip but will continue with visits. 24 OL Ken Shackleford 6-5 290 Villa Rica, GA Unable to visit due to car trouble. Hopes to reschedule. 25 DL Anthony McDaniel 6-6 265 Columbia (SC #6) Good visit but continue with trips. TN and GA still in but Clemson leads. 26 DB Philip Brown 5-11 185 Hampton, VA Leaning to Clemson. Going to UVA and VT the next two weeks. 27 DB Brian Staley 5-10 170 Ga Military JC Lean to Clemson. Has been to Nebraksa and will go to SC next week. Will decide after SC visit. 28 DL D.J. Ernst 6-2 265 West Monroe, LA No offer from Tigers yet. He will continue with visits. 29 LB Nick Watkins 6-2 215 New Orleans, LA Good trip. Will continue with visits. 30 WR Noah Whiteside 6-0 175 Greenville (SC #5) Had a good visit. He says he is split 50-50 between SC and Clemson. He will have a decision after he visits SC next week. Does not consider himself a SC commitment now.
31 LB Ryan Brown 6-2 240 Berkeley (SC #12) Good trip. Leaning to SC. Going to visit SC, Ohio State and FL. 32 OL Eric Young 6-6 270 Union (SC #2) Great trip. Now leaning to Clemson. Will decision between Clemson and SC on signing day. 33 LB Michael Heard 6-4 220 Lovejoy, GA Good trip. No offer from Tigers. 34 DE Kenny Price 6-5 300 Virginia Beach, VA 50 - 50 between NC and Clemson now. Others - OL Mario Henderson 6-7 331 Lehigh, FL Did not visit because of a basketball game and has rescheduled for next weekend. Currently leaning to Clemson over NCSU.