Instant analysis: Jaelyn Lay signs with Clemson

TigerNet Staff - Correspondent - Wednesday, December 19 2018

Jaelyn Lay - Tight End
TigerNet: (4.36)

Height: 6-6 Weight: 245 Hometown: Riverdale, GA (Riverdale HS) Class: 2019

ESPN:

#4 TE-H, #41 GA

Rivals:

#157 Overall, #3 TE, #16 GA

24/7:

#26 TE, #50 GA

One of the nation’s top-rated tight ends sent in his NLI in four-star prospect Jaelyn Lay.

More on Lay...

Jaelyn Lay - 4-star TE - Riverdale (Ga.)

Committed since: 03/03/18.

Recruiter: Danny Pearman, Mike Reed.

Listed size: 6-6 245.

Early enrollee

Brings to Clemson: It’s tough not to start with the frame that Lay is working with before stepping on campus. At 6-foot-6 and built up to a weight in the 240s (listed as 220 preseason by recruiting sites), Lay displayed in the offseason camp circuit and then on the field this fall that he can be a problem for opposing defenses. The easy comparison is former Tiger Jordan Leggett and Lay even surpasses Leggett’s recruiting evaluations coming.

Depth chart fit: Whether Lay is ready to step in for an instant-impact is yet to be seen but what can’t be questioned is the void left since Leggett in playmaking tight ends at Clemson. Braden Galloway, who will be a sophomore next season, has shown glimpses and should factor more heavily into an offense that’s losing possibly its three-highest in snaps next season (Cannon Smith, Cannon Smith and Garrett Williams*).

* Was honored for senior day and might opt to join military instead of using his final year of eligibility.

Brent Venables analysis: "I've not seen a more competitive player than Jaelyn Lay. His skillset is super, super special. We (linebackers) matched up with the tight ends in camp and Jaelyn Lay is the most impressive tight end I have seen in a camp since I've been coaching. Hopefully he brings work ethic and toughness and competitiveness to grind with him - and I believe he will because I think he's made of the right stuff. I really like what he's about. I've been as impressed with him as anybody I've seen in camp, at any position."

Number to know: 4 - Touchdowns from a Clemson tight end over the last two seasons after Leggett scored 15 in the 2015-16 seasons.