Instant analysis: Michel Dukes signs with Clemson

Patience paid off for Charleston's Michel Dukes.

by TigerNet Staff - Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 9:31 AM

Michel Dukes - Running Back
TigerNet: (3.36)

Height: 5-10 Weight: 191 Hometown: Charleston, SC (First Baptist Church School HS) Class: 2019

ESPN:

#58 RB, #17 SC

Rivals:

#21 SC

24/7:

#45 RB, #11 SC

Patience paid off for an instate prospect to join the Clemson backfield in Charleston’s Michel Dukes.

"We felt like we needed to add another running back to this class," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Wednesday. "Coach (Tony) Elliott, I give a lot of credit. He's been in camp since the eighth grade...Y'all are going to like him. He's a dynamic guy. Basketball player as well. Really excited to add him to this class."

More on Dukes...

Michel Dukes - 3-star RB - Charleston, S.C.

Committed since: 1/20/19.

Listed size: 5-10 191.

Recruiter: Tony Elliott.

Brings to Clemson: Dukes dominated the SCISA 3A level, totaling nearly 9,000 career rushing yards at First Baptist. Dukes regularly busted through attempted tackles at the line and turned on the jets for over 100 career scores with the Hurricanes. He also fits Clemson’s target mold of a successful multi-sport athlete - a D1 basketball prospect as well. Dukes bided his time for a Clemson offer and pulled the trigger on a commitment when he got it in January.

Depth chart fit: With a couple prominent upperclassmen atop the depth chart currently in ACC player of the year Travis Etienne and former 5-star prospect Tavien Feaster - no one is really expecting a major workload from any of the RB freshman signees. Add in a dynamic debut from Lyn-J Dixon last season and there are a couple routes these backs can go. Dixon did not redshirt and provided some highlight reel plays - but with the possibility of Etienne and Feaster moving on to the pros in 2020, you figure at least one will benefit from playing four games and taking a redshirt.

Number to know: 117 - Dukes found the end zone 117 times with First Baptist.

Official Clemson bio

Ranked by 247Sports as one of the top 50 running backs in the nation and as the No. 13 player at any position in South Carolina … rated by Rivals.com as the No. 21 player in the state … considered the No. 17 player in South Carolina by ESPN.com … PrepStar All-Atlantic Region selection … concluded prep career with 685 carries for 8,762 rushing yards and 117 rushing touchdowns as well as 34 receptions for 743 yards and nine receiving touchdowns … led his team to an 11-2 record and a state runner-up finish as a senior in 2018 in the school’s first season in AAA … rushed 188 times for 2,030 yards with 29 rushing touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 136 yards with two receiving touchdowns in 2018 … won Lonnie Robinson Memorial Award as SCISA Player of the Year and shared All-Lowcountry Player of the Year honors … notched 335 rushing yards in his penultimate high school game, a win over Porter-Guad in the SCISA AAA semifinals … helped team to SCISA AA titles in 2016 and 2017 … played his high school football at First Baptist School for coach Johnny Waters … primary Clemson recruiter was Tony Elliott … will enroll at Clemson in the summer of 2019.

Welcome to the #ClemsonFamily, Michel Dukes! #ALLIN #WeTooDeep19 pic.twitter.com/pVitxaSTqA
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) February 6, 2019

Yessirr ???? #WeTooDeep19 https://t.co/1tfrPo1FLJ
— 2???? (@MDukes02) February 6, 2019

Decision was made Saturday- pen to paper today for Mikey Dukes today signing with Clemson. Dukes says he has spoken a bunch with Trevor Lawrence, Tee Higgins, Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon and feels he will fit right in. pic.twitter.com/flEUQSiXLE
— Scott Eisberg (@SEisbergWCIV) February 6, 2019

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