Prey
Turn on the Discovery Channel and often times you can find a documentary on the crocodiles on the Nile River that prey upon the weaker looking migrating animal trying to cross the river. The weaker of the pack is easier game.
This happens in football recruiting and you can see it through Clemson's football recruiting so far in the class of 2015.
The Tigers have 18 commitments and are currently ranked second in the country in recruiting by rivals.com. Twelve of Clemson's 18 commitments are from outside of the state of South Carolina. Interestingly enough, many are from areas where the local college teams are struggling.
Yesterday Clemson received a commitment from Clelin Ferrell the nation's 77th best player. Ferrell is a defensive end from Richmond, VA who chose the Tigers over a bunch of offers including Virginia and Virginia Tech.
The staff has also secured another commitment from one of the top players in the state of Virginia in Chad Smith a four star linebacker a few weeks ago.
The Clemson staff is involved with seven of the top nine players in Virginia including securing commitments from the state's number five prospect in Ferrell and the number nine prospect in Smith. Clemson has been involved with the state's number one player Josh Sweat, number three Tim Settle, number four Austin Clark, number six Jahvoni Simmons and number eight Ricky DeBerry.
It is no coincidence that the Tigers influence coincides with winning 31 games the last three years, an ACC title, two BCS bowl games and wins against Georgia, Auburn, FSU, Ohio State and LSU the last three years.
It is also no coincidence that Clemson is 4-0 against Virginia and Virginia Tech in those seasons including a 2-0 record in Charlottesville and Blacksburg.
The Cavs and Hokies have not given a lot of players in the state a reason to stay in the state while Clemson has given them a reason to look south.
In this class Clemson has commitments from four star wide receiver Deon Cain, four star tight end Garrett Williams, four star offensive lineman Jake Fruhmorgen and three star quarterback Tucker Isreal. These four prospects are from the central Florida region of Tampa and Orlando. It is no coincidence that the staff has succeeded in a geographic area where the Florida Gators once dominated but their program has fallen on hard times.
Talk in central Florida is about Will Muschamp on the hot seat. When players in the region think of Clemson many of them see the success former Sunshine State stars like
C.J. Spiller
C.J. Spiller
Pro Running Back
#28 5-11, 195
Lake Butler, FL
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and
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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had at Clemson.
The interesting thing here is that this used to happen in our state. When Clemson was struggling it was so much easier for Florida State to come to South Carolina and sign the Boulwares, Chad Bates and Alex Barron. It was easier for Tennessee to sign Eric Young. It was easier for Georgia to sign multiple players from the Palmetto State.
Watching Clemson football become the crocodiles instead of the wildebeest is a heck of a lot of fun to watch.
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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.
Those who need our prayers include: Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker,
Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
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and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport,
Patrick DeStefano
Patrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
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, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Mark Whiten, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
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