Brent Venables named national recruiter of the year

Never tell Brent Venables the odds. At least not on Signing Day.

The 247Sports’ recruiter of the year, in a team effort by the coaching staff, was able to close out one of the best defensive classes of 2016.

Venables helped secure signees such as four-star cornerback Trayvon Mullen (6-foot-2, 170 pounds). Predictions going into and on Signing Day had Mullen bound for LSU, where he had some ties. Mullen, however, said it was all Clemson from the start.

“Every day I woke up, Clemson was in my head,” Mullen said. “In my heart – I just rolled with Clemson."

“Just thankful he gave us (a commitment),” Venables said, “even in spring ball we’re out there watching his spring game and there’s a who’s who of college football coaches and the places they represented. It looked like a tough task.

“And the people ‘in the know’ gave us zero chance whatsoever. He was bound to go to LSU. They had recruited him really, really hard. And had build in a lot of inroads. All of us and the rest of staff to overcome that to get him.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney lauded Mullen as one to follow in the footsteps of the departed Mackensie Alexander – another long-armed corner that can compete with bigger receivers.

Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott was ranked as the No. 18 recruiter in the nation by 247 Sports.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Brent Venables named national recruiter of the year."