How Clemson is handling the early signing period
Clemson’s coaching staff is not only busy preparing to face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, but Dabo Swinney and his assistants are also focused on locking up some major recruiting targets on Wednesday.
This is the first year of the early signing period, which allows prospects to sign on Dec. 20 instead of waiting until February.
The process of getting ready for the early signing period has been challenging for Clemson’s coaching staff, but it also has some positives.
“It’s definitely different. I know a lot of us were pushing for the early signing day, and now that we’re going through it, right now there’s no exact formula. We’re kind of figuring it out as we go,” Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said. “I know we’ve had some crazy schedules as coaches… But I think it’ll be really beneficial for us in January when it’s time to go out and we know what our class looks like.”
Clemson currently has 12 prospects committed and all are expected to sign on Wednesday.
The group is led by the No. 1 overall recruit in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Tigers also have a commitment from the No. 3 overall recruit in defensive end Xavier Thomas and are in the running for fellow five-star recruits KJ Henry, Jackson Carman and Cade Mays.
Clemson is hoping to lock up the majority of its class now and get a head start on next year.
“We really will have a chance to go focus on some of the younger guys and get a good plan for that. But I think we’ve gotta kind of go through it to figure out how to best go about it next year,” Scott said.
Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables said he is a fan of the early signing period.
“Really, there’s been very little drama for us. I think it’s been intentional and also a byproduct of having a smaller class,” Venables said. “I like it because it’s creating a lot of stress for everybody (else). And I think we have less than most this year anyway. So we’ll see. Ask me next year. It’s been good.”
One of the most challenging parts for Clemson could come after the Tigers’ season when underclassmen who are eligible for the NFL draft make their decisions.
Kendall Joseph, Austin Bryant, Deon Cain, Christian Wilkins, Ray-Ray McCloud, Mitch Hyatt and Clelin Ferrell are among the players who could leave early.
But Clemson will not know exactly how many scholarships it has available for signing day in February until after those decisions are made.
“The good thing is that’s coach (Brandon) Streeter’s and coach (Dabo) Swinney’s problem,” Scott joked. “I told coach Streeter, ‘I’m glad that’s you and not me.’”
Scott went on to say that Clemson is always talking about its scholarship numbers and how many offers it has out, and the Tigers expect the process to go smoothly.
“It’s easy as coaches, especially with the success that we’ve had as a team, to find guys that want to come to Clemson,” Scott said, “and coach Swinney really challenges our staff every day to be sure that we’re very intentional to bring the best players that are the best fit at Clemson, not just going out and trying to sign as many guys as we possibly can.
“Coach Swinney’s definitely not a coach that’s going to go over-sign. He’s going to be very careful. This is not a program that tries to run players off. He wants every one of those juniors that wants to come back, he wants them to have their spot. He’s loyal to those guys and not to anybody in high school.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 4:47 PM with the headline "How Clemson is handling the early signing period."