Clemson adds pair of offensive linemen for 2017

Clemson landed an offensive lineman commitment for its 2017 class on Sunday for the second time in two days.

On Saturday it was Matt Bockhorst (6-5, 300) of Cincinnati who committed during a junior day. Sunday it was Blake Vinson (6-5, 285) of Ocala, Fla., who made his pledge while on an unofficial visit.

Vinson also had offers from USC, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Miami, LSU, Penn State, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and others. He said Clemson gives him everything he’s looking for in a college and a football program.

“The atmosphere around the program and all the coaches are really strong in their faith, and that’s important,” Vinson said. “The good atmosphere around the program where I fit in well and where the coaches would develop me as a player and as a young man.”

Vinson also is caught up in the Clemson football fever with the Tigers one of the nation’s hottest programs coming off a 14-1 season and a national championship game appearance.

“That’s something that’s really cool, playing for the national championship, and I’m part of the next recruiting class the year after that, and that’s pretty special,” Vinson said. “I’m the third offensive lineman commitment and I’m pretty excited.”

Vinson said he’s equally effective in run and pass blocking and did not allow a sack or a tackle on the line of scrimmage last season. And he said the Clemson coaches love his versatility as an offensive lineman.

“One of the things the coaches like about me is I can play any of the five (positions),” he said. “I’m aggressive on the field and I play till the whistle blows.”

Vinson said he’s on track to graduate in December and plans to enroll at Clemson next January.

Bockhorst chose Clemson over offers from Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State and Vanderbilt.

He made his commitment to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and offensive line Robbie Caldwell while attending the Tigers’ junior day on Saturday. He also visited Clemson last season, and that’s when he began to think hard about making the Tigers his choice.

The two give Clemson six commitments for the 2017 class. That includes three offensive linemen and two quarterbacks.