In-state LB accepts preferred walk-on offer with Tigers

Holden performed well at the 2015 Dabo Swinney Football camp

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Mon Feb 22 20:29:34 GMT-04:00 2016

Landon Holden - Linebacker
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 Hometown: Inman, SC (Chapman HS) Class: 2016

ESPN: NR

In-state 2016 linebacker Landon Holden from Inman, South Carolina has accepted a preferred walk-on role with the Clemson Football team on Monday according to his Twitter account.

"I thank God so much for putting me in the position that I'm in, I strongly believe that I am following his plans for my life, and I'm letting God guide me in the direction he wants me to go," Holden tweeted. "I want to thank my parents for always being there for me and supporting me throughout the entire recruiting process. It is such a blessing to have received multiple offers, but I won't be attending a school that offered. With that being said, after 17 years of bleeding orange, I have been blessed with the opportunity to make my dream a reality. I will be enrolling at Clemson University as a preferred walk-on this fall."

TigerNet spoke with Holden moments after his commitment, and he is excited about being a Tiger. "My dad and my uncle and several family members went to Clemson, so it's a big deal to say I am a Tiger."

Holden turned down two full scholarship football offers to be a part of the Clemson family.

"Clemson was always the first choice, I grew up a Clemson fan, and I always knew if I ever got the opportunity to go to Clemson that I would take it," Holden said. I had offers from Newberry, Limestone, and a number of preferred walk-ons from FCS schools."

He attended the 2015 Dabo Swinney Football camp and more than held his own against higher recruited players.

"I understand the walk on role is to contribute any way they can, and I understand that. But I hope to earn a scholarship one day."

Holden's main recruiter of record is Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

"We talk fairly often," Holden said about Venables. "I like him a lot, and he's a great coach. I look forward to working with him and learning from him."

As a junior, he had 125 tackles, ten tackles for loss and four sacks. As a sophomore, he had 111 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks.

Holden said that he has already applied and has been accepted into Clemson for the Fall semester.

I've finally decided that Clemson University will be my home for the next 4 years!!#ALLIN???? pic.twitter.com/oNNXTcrmXI
— Landon Holden (@landonholden_3) February 23, 2016

School Record Holder:
Tackles-431?
TFL-49?
Sacks-20?
Tackles in a game-25?
TFL in a season-32?
Sacks in a season-12? pic.twitter.com/2WYLIDPfLy
— Landon Holden (@landonholden_3) December 3, 2015