PUBLISHER's NOTE: We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! In light of the Christmas holiday and with Larry and Paul in Dallas (bowl practices begin today), we will shelf the Monday Insider. I do not know yet whether we will release one on Monday, New Years Eve. TBD. ***** More content beyond these insider notes coming later today. *****
By: Paul Strelow
The dust has settled from the early signing period, and quite the relative dust devil it was.
Clemson's staff doesn’t tend to juggle a bunch of prospects who could go one way or another into a signing day, a la an Alabama. But the final week brought considerable drama and activity.
The Tigers head toward next month’s home stretch and the February 6 (second) National Signing Day with the No. 5-ranked recruiting class in the Rivals.com rankings, a four-star away from jumping LSU and Texas A&M for third place.
With the Christmas holidays and Cotton Bowl coverage on deck, the Monday Insider will return in due order.
But here are a few recruiting nuggets and insights on which to feast in the meantime:
**** The Tigers corralled 27 signees during the early period, tied for second-most among the non-military schools behind Ole Miss (28).
But as we’re fond of saying, recruiting followers are insatiable. Fans always want more commitments, and they want them now.
We’ve expressed that we expect to track a number of different prospects during January, as more additions to this recruiting class are likely and that continues to be the case.
Yet we can also tell you this: Clemson's staff has not determined its exact needs yet.
The staff will meet following the conclusion of the postseason to go over their scholarship situation and discern if there are certain positions that merit filling or over-sign candidates worth chasing.
We do know the Tigers still intend to bring in a second running back in this class. After late offer D.J. Williams spurned a chance to visit a week ago and signed with Auburn instead, Clemson's staff has arranged an official visit the first available weekend in January (11-13) with Jackson (Miss.) Prep four-star Jerrion Ealy, an Ole Miss commitment for whom pro baseball is the actual competition.
**** According to what we are hearing, there is a favorable chance Clemson's staff will entertain the addition of one more offensive lineman as well.
One name we brought back to light earlier this month who merits monitoring is Pensacola (Fla.) tackle Darius Washington, a Mississippi State commitment who did not sign last week and has two official visits left to use.
**** As prisoners of the moment, we opined that the temperature for Clemson’s finish would likely be dictated by whether it managed to nab one of its big-name offensive line targets.
Tampa (Fla.) Plant four-star guard Will Putnam fit the bill.
A little more behind-the-scenes context and anecdotes to close the book on the Tigers’ major addition:
We had characterized Florida State as the frontrunner coming out of last weekend, and our feedback after-the-fact reiterated that smoke to have been accurate. Or at the least, the Seminoles’ threat was real.
Putnam went quiet with everyone in his personal inner circle, leading all three finalists – including Auburn -- to somewhat question their standing.
We can now tell you that Putnam called and informed Dabo Swinney of his decision Tuesday night.
Putnam and Swinney then concocted a plan to set up offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell the next morning.
Before Swinney took the stage Wednesday morning for Clemson’s signing day webcast ceremony, Putnam called.
Swinney responded to Putnam’s words downtrodden and defeated, then handed Caldwell the phone.
Caldwell was prepared for the letdown when Putnam informed him Clemson was the choice.
Caldwell’s reaction could be heard loud and clear through the football operations complex.
Judging by the reaction on the WestZone message board, many of our subscribers could relate.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize this article on other message boards or Web sites, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
By: Paul Strelow
The dust has settled from the early signing period, and quite the relative dust devil it was.
Clemson's staff doesn’t tend to juggle a bunch of prospects who could go one way or another into a signing day, a la an Alabama. But the final week brought considerable drama and activity.
The Tigers head toward next month’s home stretch and the February 6 (second) National Signing Day with the No. 5-ranked recruiting class in the Rivals.com rankings, a four-star away from jumping LSU and Texas A&M for third place.
With the Christmas holidays and Cotton Bowl coverage on deck, the Monday Insider will return in due order.
But here are a few recruiting nuggets and insights on which to feast in the meantime:
**** The Tigers corralled 27 signees during the early period, tied for second-most among the non-military schools behind Ole Miss (28).
But as we’re fond of saying, recruiting followers are insatiable. Fans always want more commitments, and they want them now.
We’ve expressed that we expect to track a number of different prospects during January, as more additions to this recruiting class are likely and that continues to be the case.
Yet we can also tell you this: Clemson's staff has not determined its exact needs yet.
The staff will meet following the conclusion of the postseason to go over their scholarship situation and discern if there are certain positions that merit filling or over-sign candidates worth chasing.
We do know the Tigers still intend to bring in a second running back in this class. After late offer D.J. Williams spurned a chance to visit a week ago and signed with Auburn instead, Clemson's staff has arranged an official visit the first available weekend in January (11-13) with Jackson (Miss.) Prep four-star Jerrion Ealy, an Ole Miss commitment for whom pro baseball is the actual competition.
**** According to what we are hearing, there is a favorable chance Clemson's staff will entertain the addition of one more offensive lineman as well.
One name we brought back to light earlier this month who merits monitoring is Pensacola (Fla.) tackle Darius Washington, a Mississippi State commitment who did not sign last week and has two official visits left to use.
**** As prisoners of the moment, we opined that the temperature for Clemson’s finish would likely be dictated by whether it managed to nab one of its big-name offensive line targets.
Tampa (Fla.) Plant four-star guard Will Putnam fit the bill.
A little more behind-the-scenes context and anecdotes to close the book on the Tigers’ major addition:
We had characterized Florida State as the frontrunner coming out of last weekend, and our feedback after-the-fact reiterated that smoke to have been accurate. Or at the least, the Seminoles’ threat was real.
Putnam went quiet with everyone in his personal inner circle, leading all three finalists – including Auburn -- to somewhat question their standing.
We can now tell you that Putnam called and informed Dabo Swinney of his decision Tuesday night.
Putnam and Swinney then concocted a plan to set up offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell the next morning.
Before Swinney took the stage Wednesday morning for Clemson’s signing day webcast ceremony, Putnam called.
Swinney responded to Putnam’s words downtrodden and defeated, then handed Caldwell the phone.
Caldwell was prepared for the letdown when Putnam informed him Clemson was the choice.
Caldwell’s reaction could be heard loud and clear through the football operations complex.
Judging by the reaction on the WestZone message board, many of our subscribers could relate.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize this article on other message boards or Web sites, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
