Swinney Camp Insider II
CLEMSON -- The weather was hot. Dabo Swinney instructed parents and prospects alike over the loudspeaker that this was a football camp, not a combine. Initial warm-up jumping jacks didn't meet the standard and were done over.
And blue-chip quarterbacks drew the spotlight.
Yep, the Swinney Camp was back indeed.
It's about the recruits you win, not attract. Yet the opening morning of this summer's camp felt as strong an indication as any that despite some perceptions or commentary to the contrary, the Tigers are still positioned to potentially be elite for the foreseeable future.
Charlotte (N.C.) five-star and longtime Dabo Swinney Camper Jadyn Davis is shown here this morning in the Jervey practice facility. (Tigerillustrated.com)
That's because so much has ridden and does ride on the quarterback position. With five-star Cade Klubnik now on campus and among the camp counselors ... and amid glowing reviews this week for Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian four-star Christopher Vizzina at a prestigious California camp ... Clemson is right back in line competing for the top 2024 quarterback talent, as evidenced Wednesday morning.
As we foreshadowed, two of the top three Clemson candidates on the board -- Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day five-star Jadyn Davis and Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day four-star Jake Merklinger -- were back on campus for the opening day of camp in an effort to score the elusive offer.
The third -- Willis (Texas) five-star DJ Lagway -- reported his offer Tuesday evening and is slated to take a campus visit Monday.
To be frank, we wrote in so many words last summer that Davis didn't have the best outing. That obviously influenced some of our thinking on him as a prospect, although we noted the small sample size. But Davis still had something to show this observer after seeing him several times before.
Fast forward to March, and we wrote that what we saw of Davis at the Rivals Camp Series competition in Charlotte had put him much closer in line to the hype and expectations set through the years since he hit the radar as a middle-schooler.
The returns from his showing at the same California camp this week reinforced that Davis appears to have taken a substantial step over the past year.
That was again on display Wednesday. Davis (6-0, 185), ranked No. 6 nationally by Rivals.com, has both a presence and a quiet confidence about him that you value in your quarterback. He made some sharp sideline throws to flash sufficient arm strength, but also nice touch on the post corner.
And yet, if asked to rate Davis versus Merklinger, this observer would say it would be splitting hairs based on this sample.
Merklinger (6-3, 185), ranked No. 178 in the country, looked good in this setting. Both guys had their moments, and Merklinger was crisper on the outs and posts.
Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day four-star QB Jake Merklinger. (Tigerillustrated.com)
He gave the impression of being the caliber of prospect in line with what Clemson has attracted the previous two cycles.
Which would present a good dilemma for offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter to have.
Clemson is in the handful of schools under consideration by Davis, with UGA having picked up a little steam again recently.
Merklinger saw his stock take off last month with a bunch of SEC and ACC offers and will see what his market is after the summer. But suffice it to say, the Tigers probably aren't beneath anyone at this juncture. .
To his credit, Miami (Fla.) Columbus four-star Adrian Posse wasn't bad at all, either, and is a big, strong kid. But we'd tab Davis and Merklinger a cut above.
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If there was one prospect who caught our attention in exceeding expectation, it was Powell (Tenn.) high-three star senior receiver Ayden Greene.
Greene (6-1, 166) named a top five last month of Tennessee, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Mississippi State.
An official visit with Cincinnati begins Friday, and he goes on an official to Arkansas next weekend. Virginia Tech draws his third official the last weekend of the month.
Is there elite upside or a tool upon which he hangs his hat? No.
But he's smooth and a precise route-runner with good hands and body control.
He distinguished himself from a receiver group that included Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley junior four-star Alex Taylor and Bellevue (Neb.) junior four-star Dae'vonn Hall among others.
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Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward junior four-star tackle Ben Roebuck drew Swinney to the offensive line group.
Roebuck (6-7, 320), ranked No. 69 overall, has offers from Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin. He camps at Notre Dame on Sunday and Ohio State next week.
Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward junior four-star offensive tackle Ben Roebuck. (Tigerillustrated.com)
The size is legit. Understandably, he didn't have as easy a time bending and moving under the chute as shorter linemen.
But when the coaches got some technique cleaned up, you saw the impact that sheer bulk had in moving the two-man blocking sled. Mass moved mass, which is what Clemson is looking to increase.
A solid showing from Central (S.C.) Daniel junior interior lineman Watson Young (6-2, 260), son of Clemson administrator and former lineman Kyle Young.
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Extra points ...
**** Arden (N.C.) Christ School four-star junior linebacker Cayden Jones proved the biggest name at his position group.
Jones (6-4, 205), ranked No. 139 in the country, has offers from Notre Dame, UNC, N.C. State, Tennessee, South Carolina, USC, Oklahoma and Duke among others.
**** There might not have been a budding star among the tight ends, but it was as strong a group from top to bottom as we've seen there in a few years.
Stockbridge (Ga.) back Jayden Scott. (Tigerillustrated.com)
In addition to Woodstock (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic's Christian Bentancur and Richmond (Va.) Benedictine School's Luca Puccinelli, we also saw Frisco (Texas) Wakeland three-star Tripp Riordan.
Riordan (6-4, 240) cites offers from Florida State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Minnesota and Vanderbilt.
One who piqued our eye was Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan's Jamie Tremble, a 6-3 target who played receiver last year.
**** Stockbridge (Ga.) three-star Jayden Scott stood as the best of the running back group, followed arguably by St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County's Ahmir Smith.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the Swinney Camp with an afternoon session still to go today.
SHOP for officially-licensed Clemson gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
CLEMSON -- The weather was hot. Dabo Swinney instructed parents and prospects alike over the loudspeaker that this was a football camp, not a combine. Initial warm-up jumping jacks didn't meet the standard and were done over.
And blue-chip quarterbacks drew the spotlight.
Yep, the Swinney Camp was back indeed.
It's about the recruits you win, not attract. Yet the opening morning of this summer's camp felt as strong an indication as any that despite some perceptions or commentary to the contrary, the Tigers are still positioned to potentially be elite for the foreseeable future.
Charlotte (N.C.) five-star and longtime Dabo Swinney Camper Jadyn Davis is shown here this morning in the Jervey practice facility. (Tigerillustrated.com)
That's because so much has ridden and does ride on the quarterback position. With five-star Cade Klubnik now on campus and among the camp counselors ... and amid glowing reviews this week for Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian four-star Christopher Vizzina at a prestigious California camp ... Clemson is right back in line competing for the top 2024 quarterback talent, as evidenced Wednesday morning.
As we foreshadowed, two of the top three Clemson candidates on the board -- Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day five-star Jadyn Davis and Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day four-star Jake Merklinger -- were back on campus for the opening day of camp in an effort to score the elusive offer.
The third -- Willis (Texas) five-star DJ Lagway -- reported his offer Tuesday evening and is slated to take a campus visit Monday.
To be frank, we wrote in so many words last summer that Davis didn't have the best outing. That obviously influenced some of our thinking on him as a prospect, although we noted the small sample size. But Davis still had something to show this observer after seeing him several times before.
Fast forward to March, and we wrote that what we saw of Davis at the Rivals Camp Series competition in Charlotte had put him much closer in line to the hype and expectations set through the years since he hit the radar as a middle-schooler.
The returns from his showing at the same California camp this week reinforced that Davis appears to have taken a substantial step over the past year.
That was again on display Wednesday. Davis (6-0, 185), ranked No. 6 nationally by Rivals.com, has both a presence and a quiet confidence about him that you value in your quarterback. He made some sharp sideline throws to flash sufficient arm strength, but also nice touch on the post corner.
And yet, if asked to rate Davis versus Merklinger, this observer would say it would be splitting hairs based on this sample.
Merklinger (6-3, 185), ranked No. 178 in the country, looked good in this setting. Both guys had their moments, and Merklinger was crisper on the outs and posts.
Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day four-star QB Jake Merklinger. (Tigerillustrated.com)
He gave the impression of being the caliber of prospect in line with what Clemson has attracted the previous two cycles.
Which would present a good dilemma for offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter to have.
Clemson is in the handful of schools under consideration by Davis, with UGA having picked up a little steam again recently.
Merklinger saw his stock take off last month with a bunch of SEC and ACC offers and will see what his market is after the summer. But suffice it to say, the Tigers probably aren't beneath anyone at this juncture. .
To his credit, Miami (Fla.) Columbus four-star Adrian Posse wasn't bad at all, either, and is a big, strong kid. But we'd tab Davis and Merklinger a cut above.
=================================================
If there was one prospect who caught our attention in exceeding expectation, it was Powell (Tenn.) high-three star senior receiver Ayden Greene.
Greene (6-1, 166) named a top five last month of Tennessee, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Mississippi State.
An official visit with Cincinnati begins Friday, and he goes on an official to Arkansas next weekend. Virginia Tech draws his third official the last weekend of the month.
Is there elite upside or a tool upon which he hangs his hat? No.
But he's smooth and a precise route-runner with good hands and body control.
He distinguished himself from a receiver group that included Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley junior four-star Alex Taylor and Bellevue (Neb.) junior four-star Dae'vonn Hall among others.
=================================================
Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward junior four-star tackle Ben Roebuck drew Swinney to the offensive line group.
Roebuck (6-7, 320), ranked No. 69 overall, has offers from Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin. He camps at Notre Dame on Sunday and Ohio State next week.
Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward junior four-star offensive tackle Ben Roebuck. (Tigerillustrated.com)
The size is legit. Understandably, he didn't have as easy a time bending and moving under the chute as shorter linemen.
But when the coaches got some technique cleaned up, you saw the impact that sheer bulk had in moving the two-man blocking sled. Mass moved mass, which is what Clemson is looking to increase.
A solid showing from Central (S.C.) Daniel junior interior lineman Watson Young (6-2, 260), son of Clemson administrator and former lineman Kyle Young.
=================================================
Extra points ...
**** Arden (N.C.) Christ School four-star junior linebacker Cayden Jones proved the biggest name at his position group.
Jones (6-4, 205), ranked No. 139 in the country, has offers from Notre Dame, UNC, N.C. State, Tennessee, South Carolina, USC, Oklahoma and Duke among others.
**** There might not have been a budding star among the tight ends, but it was as strong a group from top to bottom as we've seen there in a few years.
Stockbridge (Ga.) back Jayden Scott. (Tigerillustrated.com)
In addition to Woodstock (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic's Christian Bentancur and Richmond (Va.) Benedictine School's Luca Puccinelli, we also saw Frisco (Texas) Wakeland three-star Tripp Riordan.
Riordan (6-4, 240) cites offers from Florida State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Minnesota and Vanderbilt.
One who piqued our eye was Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan's Jamie Tremble, a 6-3 target who played receiver last year.
**** Stockbridge (Ga.) three-star Jayden Scott stood as the best of the running back group, followed arguably by St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County's Ahmir Smith.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the Swinney Camp with an afternoon session still to go today.
SHOP for officially-licensed Clemson gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
