Nation's best linebacker lists Tigers in top four

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Dec 02 22:53:40 GMT-04:00 2010

Luke Hyatt is the head coach at Anson Senior High School in Wadesboro, N.C., and coaches two of the more sought-after players in the state, and both players have flirted with becoming a part of Clemson’s 2011 signing class.

Stephone Anthony is the No. 1 linebacker prospect in the nation according to ESPN. He is an outside linebacker with size (6-3, 220), speed (4.52 in the 40-yard dash) and playmaking ability (20 interceptions in his career from the linebacker spot).

Anthony has Clemson as part of a top four that includes Florida, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State. This past season, he tallied 131 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

Hyatt said the halls of Anson have been filled with visiting college football coaches, including Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and line coach Dan Brooks, who is Anthony’s recruiter of record.

“We have been getting a good bit of traffic this week in school,” Hyatt told TigerNet Thursday night. “A lot of schools are interested in Stephone and they are coming in to see him. He is getting ready for the Shrine Bowl and the Under Armour All American Game.

“Stephone is an unbelievable player and a more unbelievable kid. He is a better person than a football player. He is so long and athletic. He has picked off those 20 passes in his career, which shows you what he can do on the field. And then he turns around and plays offense for us. He does everything we ask of him and more.”

Hyatt said Anthony will start taking his official visits soon, and that Anthony has assured Steele and Brooks that Clemson will be on the list.

Hyatt also coaches one-time Clemson commit Brandon Ellerbe, a safety prospect that has since changed his commitment to the University of North Carolina. Hyatt said that Ellerbe is still firmly a Tar Heel but there might be time for Clemson to get back in the running.

“He has not told me of anything changing, but there is still time between now and signing day,” Hyatt said. “Brandon has been so helpful to us. This year we moved him to quarterback after the first game of the season, and he rushed for 1000 yards and threw for over 1500 yards. If he had play quarterback all four years the sky would have been the limit. I think everybody is looking at him as a safety, but he could line up and play just about anywhere.”