Chase Brice with director of external affairs Thad Turnipseed
More than 250 one-day campers arrived Saturday morning to join the nearly 900 campers already on hand for the second session of the Dabo Swinney Football Camp.
Perhaps the biggest newcomer was Loganville (Ga.) Grayson four-star 2017 quarterback Chase Brice.
Brice (6-2, 195), runner-up at the Rivals Quarterback Challenge in Baltimore, Md., last weekend, is the guy squarely in the Tigers’ crosshairs.
And we believe odds are favorable that he exits with an offer.
Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Miami, West Virginia, Boston College, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest have offered. He will camp at North Carolina on Sunday and N.C. State on Monday, followed by a trip Wednesday to Florida.
The quarterback pickings were sparse, as we believe San Antonio (Texas) Reagan 2017 high-three star Kellen Mond was also touring, and Jonesboro (Ga.) four-star commitment Zerrick Cooper had yet to arrive.
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The winner of the morning eyeball test went to Fredericksburg (Va.) Chancellor 2017 defensive end Yetur Matos.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables greeted Matos (6-4, 230) with a “Look at you, getting all big on me” before warm-ups. Charlotte extended his first offer last week.
For what it’s worth, Carrollton (Ga.) 2016 three-star defensive end Michael Boykin exited campus without an offer. Boykin (6-6, 250) holds offers from Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin and UNC.
The best defensive end player Saturday morning was Charlotte (N.C.) South Mecklenburg three-star Zack Gilbert. Gilbert (6-0, 241), the son of former NLF defensive lineman Sean Gilbert, might be too undersized to be in the conversation. Pittsburgh – where his father played – has offered, as have UNC and Virginia Tech.
Also on hand was Aiken (S.C.) Silver Bluff 2017 end Devontae Davis (6-3, 210), who took in Clemson’s spring game.
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A couple of 2017s who caught our attention:
Cayce (S.C.) Brookland-Cayce defensive tackle Octavious Pringle (6-1, 285) performed well. Pringle picked up an N.C. State offer at camp a week ago.
Decatur (Ga.) defensive back Dennis Bell, Charlotte (N.C.) South Meck corner Jacobe Clement and Charlotte (N.C.) Latin corner Melvin Rouse each had their strengths.
Dennis Bell
Rouse (5-9, 170) has the ideal feet, while Clement (6-0, 180) has the size and frame recruiters are coveting at corner. Bell (6-2, 205) and teammate Terrill Hall (6-3, 190) – a receiver also working out as a safety -- drew the attention of defensive backs coach Mike Reed. Bell is a player.
Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb linebacker offer Chandler Wooten also competed. Wooten (6-2, 205) also holds offers from Penn State and Nebraska.
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EXTRA POINTS …
Because it’s never too early anymore … stash away this name: Huntersville (N.C.) Hopewell 2019 linebacker Kevon Hilliard. Hilliard (6-1, 196) is spending all three days at the second session, and he’s already working with the senior group.
Venables and area recruiter Dan Brooks also showed plenty of love to Shelby (N.C.) 2018 linebacker offer Dax Hollifield, who initially had not planned to come because of injury.
The four-star receiver trio of Greenville (N.C.) Rose commitment Cornell Powell, Greensboro (N.C.) Page target Diondre Overton and Lakeland (Fla.) 2017 target J.J. Robinson all worked out together again Saturday morning.
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