Recruiting wish list - Offense

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Jul 10 09:59:42 GMT-04:00 2012

Wide Receiver

5-11, 177

Alpharetta, GA

View Full Profile ’ commitment to Clemson Sunday evening gives the Tigers 12 commitments for the 2013 recruiting class, a healthy number considering that official visits during the season still have yet to take place.

The number of commitments leaves anywhere from six to eight spots left for the Tigers to fill, and I have my own personal top five wish list for both offense and defense. Today, I start with the offense.

*RB Derrick Green Derrick Green

Running Back

6-0, 215

Richmond, VA

View Full Profile – Green is listed as the nation’s number one running back recruit by Rivals and is No. 58 in ESPN’s Top 150. He has long had the Tigers among his favorites. The Richmond (Va.) Hermitage rising senior is a 6-2, 215-pounder with a nice blend of size, power and speed.

The Tigers are probably going to take just one more back in this recruiting cycle, so Green is obviously the top remaining backfield target.

Green recently narrowed his list of schools down to 13, and Clemson made the cut. His top 13 are Tennessee, Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, Miami, Pitt, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. As a junior, he rushed for 1,500 yards.

*OG Tyrone Crowder Tyrone Crowder

Offensive Guard

6-2, 315

Rockingham, NC

View Full Profile – I have to fill this space with this road grader out of Rockingham (NC) Richmond County. Good offensive linemen are something the Tigers need if they want to contend for ACC and national championships on a consistent basis. Crowder is big (6-2, 315) and is rated at No. 96 in ESPN’s Top 150. He told me at Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney

Head Coach

View Full Profile ’s camp a few weeks back that he really likes Clemson, North Carolina and Florida, but he has offers from all over the country.

*WR Marquez North Marquez North

Wide Receiver

6-3, 205

Charlotte, NC

View Full Profile – North is rated as a 4-star by ESPN, and the Charlotte (NC) Mallard Creek prospect is listed as No. 130 in ESPN’s Top 150. He currently has Clemson as his leader, just ahead of North Carolina, Georgia, N.C. State, Florida and Ohio St.

Adding North to a class that already includes Jenkins would be a big haul for the Tigers. He plans on being on the Clemson campus for a visit later this month.

As a junior, he caught 39 passes for 1,022 (an average of 28 yards per catch) and scored 19 touchdowns.

*RB Tyshon Dye Tyshon Dye

Running Back

6-1, 210

Elberton, GA

View Full Profile – If Green is number one for the Tigers at the running back spot, then Dye is 1A. The Elberton (Ga.) Elbert County prospect is ranked at No. 113 in ESPN’s Top 150. He recently visited the Clemson campus and brought his mother, and the Tigers have interest in Dye’s brother, 2014 cornerback Marquice Dye.

Dye told me at Dabo Swinney’s camp a few weeks back that Clemson is at or near the top of his list of offers, and he might make a decision in the fall.

As a junior, he carried the ball 212 times for 1,516 yards and 21 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he rushed for 889 yards on 90 carries.

*OL Austin Droogsma Austin Droogsma

Offensive Guard

6-3, 310

Gulf Breeze, FL

View Full Profile – I am going with another offensive lineman in this spot. I spoke with one of his high school coaches, who told me that Droogsma – who is 6-4, 305 – moves like he is just 220 pounds. The Gulf Breeze (FL) standout is rated as No. 68 at his position nationally by ESPN.

He currently has a top two of Clemson and Florida St. His dad ran track at Florida St., but Droogsma told TigerNet last month that the two schools are neck and neck.

*WR De Marcus Robinson Marcus Robinson

Linebacker

6-3, 215

Memphis, TN

View Full Profile – Robinson, out of Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County High School, is just out of ESPN’s Top 150 at No. 156. He is a player that I watched extensively at Dabo Swinney’s camp last month, and I thought he brought a little bit of everything to the table – nice hands, good route running, showed a willingness to learn, and he had the body type you like out of a receiver (6-2, 200).

He recently said that his top two – in order – are Clemson and Florida, and he wants to visit each school one more time before making a decision later this month.

As a junior, he caught 52 passes for 1,024 yards and ten touchdowns.