Watch out, America. Clemson is coming for, and getting, your state’s top recruits
“We can get anybody and everybody.”
Those were the words of Clemson quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Brandon Streeter in December 2017 after the Tigers signed the top player from five different states for the class of 2018.
And while Streeter’s comments may have seemed braggadocios at the time, there was also some truth to them.
Four of those five players — Trevor Lawrence, Justyn Ross, Derion Kendrick and Xavier Thomas — are now starting for the Tigers and a big reason why Clemson is in the national championship game against LSU on Monday night. The other is defensive end K.J. Henry, who has contributed 20 tackles and four tackles for loss this season after a redshirt year as a freshman.
While some schools have the high school talent in their home state to compete at the highest level, Clemson has had to go outside of South Carolina for most of its top recruits. Of Clemson’s 22 starters on offense and defense, only three are from South Carolina. By comparison, 14 of LSU’s 22 starters are from Louisiana.
Clemson has had no problem going to other parts of the country and taking their top players to build a championship roster.
“Just the culture that we have here, it’s a big family. You really can’t go wrong coming to Clemson,” said Ross, who is an Alabama native. “You’re gonna develop as a player and you’re definitely going to develop as a man. I think that’s what everybody’s looking for.”
From 2016 to 2019, Clemson signed the top player from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Indiana and Kansas at least once. And there are several other out-of-state players who weren’t ranked No. 1 in their state but are currently starring for the Tigers, including Tee Higgins of Tennessee, Travis Etienne of Louisiana and Isaiah Simmons of Kansas.
“When they come on a visit we just treat them like they’re already here, treat them like family and just welcome them,” Higgins said of Clemson’s success in recruiting. “Them coming in, having the players treat them like they’re already on the team, I feel like that’s what attracts those guys.”
As Clemson has continued to win, the recruiting results have only gotten better. The Tigers currently have the No. 1 ranked recruiting class for 2020, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Clemson’s brand continues to grow as the Tigers are in the national title game for the fourth time in five years and are looking for their second consecutive national title and their third in four seasons.
“Our reputation kind of speaks for itself,” said Carman, who is an Ohio native and chose Clemson over Ohio State. “People come here and they see what it’s about. It attracts people who have the right things in their mind and the right goals. And also just the people. Great players wanna play with other great players, and great players wanna play with great coaches. We have all of those things.”
Clemson has already signed the top overall player for the class of 2020 in Maryland native Bryan Bresee, as well as the top player from Georgia in Myles Murphy. The Tigers have also signed one of the top quarterbacks in the country in California native D.J. Uiagalelei. In total Clemson has six five-star recruits this class from four different states.
The class features players from 12 different states and Canada.
“It not only will continue but increase,” Carman said.
When does Clemson play LSU?
Who: Clemson vs. LSU
When: 8 p.m. Monday
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans
TV channel: ESPN
Betting line: LSU by 5.5
