Top Prospects Visiting Clemson This Weekend

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Jan 06 18:14:15 GMT-04:00 2000

This weekend kicks off a huge recruiting month for the Tigers. Bowden and staff will

have only around 5 prospects in for visits, but they are high profile and important recruits.

Reportedly scheduled to visit are:

K Austin Herbert (6-0, 200, 4.8) from Cary, NC (Cary HS)

RB Ronald McClendon (5-8, 180, 4.4) from Ponchaloua,LA (Ponchatoula HS)

WR Johnnie Morant (6-4,220,4.5) from Parisppany,NJ (Hills HS)

WR Kelvin Kight (5-11, 185, 4.45) from Lithonia,GA (Lithonia HS) ***UPDATE Kight will go to MD this weekend instead.

DB Kerrick Sanders (6-0, 175) from New Mexico CC, NM

Kicker Austin Herbert from Cary, NC is the top kicker in the state of NC. He originally committed to NCSU in December, but the turmoil around the NCSU coaching situation had him concerned and he backed out of the commitment. In his junior year, he was 9 out of 19 on FGs (47 yd long), 70% of his kickoffs were touchbacks and he averaged 38.1 yards on punts. He improved all of those numbers his senior year with 17 out of 26 FGs (50 yd long), over 75% of his kickoffs were not returned, and he averaged 40+ yards on punts. Recruiting analyst, Bobby Burton, ranks him as the #7 kicker in the country. Others schools involved with Herbert include PITT, NCSU, SC, and ECU.

Kickers needed: 1 committed: 0

Running back Ronald McClendon from Ponchaloua,LA is what you would call a speed burner. In fact, he told recruiting analyst, Mickey Plyler that he ran the fastest 100 m in the country by a high schooler this year - 10.3 electronically timed. His best hand held meet is a 10.07. In the 200 m he ran a 21.45 and his best long jump is 23 feet 8 and one-half inches. With these number you can see why he will also run track for the school he attends. On the football field Ronald played quarterback, running back, receiver, and defensive back for his high school in Louisiana. Recruiting analyst, Bobby Burton, ranks him as the #11 running back in the country with 4 out of 5 stars. Plyler ranks him as the #7 running back in the country and #4 prospect in the state of Louisiana. Others schools involved with McClendon include Tennessee, Tulane, Florida St, Auburn, LSU and Kentucky.

RBs needed: 2 committed: 1

Wide receiver Kelvin Kight is one of the most explosive receivers in the South. As a junior he caught 52 passes for 1,200 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Kight is a full qualifier, scoring a 930 on the SAT. Recruiting analyst, Bobby Burton, ranks him as the #11 receiver in the country with 4 out of 5 stars. Recruiting analyst, Mickey Plyler, ranks him as the #10 receiver in the country and #4 prospect in the state of Georgia. Others schools involved with Kight include Florida St, Florida, Maryland, Arkansas, and Georgia.

WRs needed: 2-3 committed: 2

Wide receiver Johnnie Morant from Parisppany, NJ is one of the country's top prospects. As a junior, he was named first team all state with 39 catches for 990 yards and 17 touchdowns. Morant also had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. During his senior campaign Morant caught 39 passes for an outstanding 25.3 yards per catch. He is reportedly a full qualifier with a 2.4 GPA and 1030 on the SAT. Recruiting analyst, Bobby Burton, ranks him as #3 receiver in the country with 5 stars out of 5. Another recruiting analyst, Mickey Plyler, agrees ranking Morant as the country's #4 receiver. Other schools involved with Morant are Purdue, South Carolina, and Syracuse.

WRs needed: 2-3 committed: 2

Also visiting this weekend is defensive back Kerrick Sanders from New Mexico CC, NM. Sanders is a top defensive back in the junior college ranks and would add much needed depth for the Tigers in this area. He is originally from Stone Mountain, GA and his brother plays QB for NCSU. Other schools involved with Sanders are Ole Miss and NCSU.

DBs needed: 4 committed: 1