Interest in C.J. Fuller continues to grow, but Clemson still holds the advantage

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Tue Feb 12 01:33:11 GMT-04:00 2013

Interest in Easley (SC) running back C.J. Fuller C.J. Fuller
Running Back
5-10, 180
Easley, SC
View Full Profile continues to grow, and he thinks a coaching change at his high school will only help.

Fuller is a 2014 prospect who picked up a Clemson offer late last year. That offer was his first, but he says he picked up offer number two last week and the list of interested schools continues to grow.

“I hear from North Carolina a lot, and they offered me last week,” Fuller told TigerNet Monday. “But I am also hearing from Maryland, Georgia Tech and I’ve started to hear from N.C. State.”

Easley High School recently hired Grayson Howell as the school’s new head football coach. Howell had been the offensive coordinator at Sumter since 2003, and coached current Clemson running back Roderick McDowell while at Sumter. Howell, a Clemson graduate and former assistant at Daniel High School, has told Fuller the Green Wave will use him all over the field.

“Coach Howell told me that me and Rod have some similarities,” Fuller said. “He said we are going to run it, throw it and mix it up a little bit. I think we are going to have a lot of fun getting the ball out in space and showing what we can do. We are going to show everybody this year how good we can be. I know he is a good coach, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about him. I am ready for the spring.”

Fuller said he has also briefly spoken with McDowell about Howell.

“I talked with Rod a little bit,” he said. “He told me that Coach Howell would get the best out of me. He also told me that he would look out for me and get me to the next level.”

Fuller was at Clemson’s Elite Junior Day two weekends ago.

“It was pretty fun,” he said. “We talked to the coaches, and then we went to Vickery Hall and learned about the academics and the study halls. They gave us a rough draft of the schedule we could have as a freshman, and then we went on a visit to the weight room.”

After that, the recruits got to spend time with Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile .

“He was telling us what it would take to succeed at Clemson. He was telling us what the expectations are, and what he looks for,” he said. “He told us what we could expect if we go to Clemson.”

Fuller said Clemson is still his leader, but he is no rush to make a decision, and he plans on visiting Georgia Tech on March 9th.

“I am just going to take a little time,” he said. “I am going to sit down and talk to my family and coaches and see what school fits me best. I really don’t have a timeframe right now.”

The Tigers already have two running backs committed for the 2014 class – Jae’lon Oglesby and Dalvin Cook Dalvin Cook
Running Back
5-11, 190
Miami, FL
View Full Profile – but Fuller said the coaches have told him he can play whatever position he chooses.

“They told me that if I came there, I can have whatever position I want to play, whether that is as a running back or defensive back,” he said. “I told them I wanted to play running back, so if I go to Clemson I will work on the offensive side of the ball.”

As a junior, Fuller rushed 206 times for 2,088 yards, an average of 10.1 yards per carry average. He also scored 9 touchdowns. Against Wren, he set the Easley school single-game rushing record with 16 carries for 309 yards and four touchdowns.

As a sophomore, he rushed 117 times for 712 yards, a 6.1 yards per carry average, with seven touchdowns.