The Monday Insider will go more in-depth with ramifications and reaction from Clemson’s “All-In Cookout.”
But here are nuggets to satiate your appetite until then:
We spoke with Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy four-star offensive lineman Bryce Mathews following his second trip to campus.
Mathews (6-6, 275) had been thinking of making this his last visit before rendering a decision, and that now appears the plan.
The nation’s No. 189 prospect told TigerIllustrated.com he could announce a commitment as early as next weekend.
Tennessee, Clemson and Ole Miss are each factors here, and we believe Mathews is weighing Clemson against one of the other programs – we’re just not certain which one.
“It definitely helped (Clemson),” Mathews said of the trip. “I had only been there once, so to follow that up and get that same impression of it – it was a special place, a real family oriented place. It’s somewhere I could see myself spending the next four or five years at going to school at. It’s definitely the kind of place I’m looking at now.”
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Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star linebacker commitment Rahshaun Smith created a stir when he unexpectedly appeared at Georgia’s “Dawg Night” showcase Saturday morning.
Nothing to see there, based on our information.
The only way Smith would have been able to find a ride from his Baltimore, Md., home to the Cookout was to travel along with eight peers competing at "Dawg Night" who have trained under his mentor, new Maryland director of player personnel Cory Robinson.
So that crew made a pit stop at Clemson as well. Two 2017 prospects with Clemson offers – IMG four-star receiver Emmanuel Greene and Charleston (W. Va.) South Charleston safety Derrek Pitts – were among those in the group.
Smith did not work out at Georgia. Of course, the Bulldogs sicced their linebackers coach as well as star defensive end Lorenzo Carter on Smith upon arrival.
Again, if there’s going to be a threat eventually so long as defensive coordinator Brent Venables is around, it’s going to be Maryland.
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We touched on Vienna (Ga.) Dooly County four-star defensive end Antonneous Clayton yesterday.
Also among those we’ve also interviewed for publication this week is Wichita (Kan.) East four-star defensive end Xavier Kelly.
Kelly (6-4, 257), ranked No. 150 in the country, stayed on campus until mid-afternoon Saturday before leaving to compete at Georgia in the evening.
He hung out with freshmen twin linebackers J.D. and Judah Davis and said Clemson is distinct in its family feel.
“Coach (Dabo) Swinney, just seeing him dance at the Cookout, you could tell how good a guy he is,” Kelly said. “I just like his whole vibe.”
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While the handful of 2016 four-stars departed Saturday, another couple of younger targets are expected on campus today.
After landing Roswell (Ga.) linebacker Tre Lamar on Friday night, the Tigers are set to host a pair of defensive back teammates who like Clemson as well.
Four-star 2017 cornerback LeAnthony Williams Jr. is finally making the visit he has tried to line up for more than a month. Williams (5-11, 172), ranked No. 89 in the country, also holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Louisville, Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee among others.
There remains a chance he is accompanied by Atlanta (Ga.) Hapeville Charter five-star cornerback William Poole III, his close friend and former teammate.
Traveling separately is Roswell high-three star safety Xavier McKinney, whom we introduced to subscribers as one of our top performers at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp last month.
McKinney (6-1, 180) has yet to pick up an offer. But we wouldn’t be surprised if that changed today.
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