THURSDAY NIGHT STAFF UPDATE
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Tony Elliott said today he has yet to make a decision about his future.
Elliott briefly spoke with reporters today after returning to the Clemson area from Charlottesville.
Elliott confirmed that he has a decision to make after meeting with Virginia administrators. Elliott and his family made the trip to Charlottesville yesterday before returning late this afternoon.
Our information indicates Elliott is still very much in play at Duke as well. The Blue Devils put their search process on pause Thursday while waiting on word from Elliott's visit to Virginia. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko is reportedly the other finalist for that job.
When Elliott departed for Virginia on Wednesday, all signs pointed to a deal getting done. But Elliott now appears torn among the two opportunities and remaining at his alma mater, where he has coached the last 11 seasons including the past seven as offensive coordinator.
Heading into an official recruiting visit weekend in Clemson, longtime offensive coordinator and UVA/Duke candidate Tony Elliott still has a decision to make. (US Presswire)
According to people close to Elliott, he is planning to meet with Dabo Swinney. We are told remaining in Clemson is very much in play for him.
Meanwhile, Michigan assistant Josh Gattis appears to now be in consideration for the Virginia job if Elliott declines.
After Bronco Mendenhall abruptly resigned, Virginia supposedly had a deal done with Penn State assistant Anthony Poindexter but negotiations broke down.
As recently as late Wednesday night, people close to Elliott thought the deal with Virginia was going to get done.
Initially, Elliott was a finalist for the job and was told by Virginia on Monday that the Cavaliers were going in a different direction. But then Virginia AD Carla Williams called him on Tuesday night and asked him and his family to come to Charlottesville for a formal interview.
Elliott met in person with Duke administrators on Sunday in the Clemson area. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
That one is going to sting a little more.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell's decommitment Thursday is a big loss not only for his individual talent, but for the flammable log it represents on the fire Clemson is trying to put out.
As we've expressed, there is considerable uncertainty from prospect camps right now as they see a proliferation of headlines illustrating turnover at Clemson -- change at athletics director, change at defensive coordinator, and an expected change at offensive coordinator among others.
Campbell told Rivals.com that Clemson has told him Mickey Conn and Wes Goodwin will serve as defensive coordinators going forward.
While Dabo Swinney made his in-person stop at IMG today, we are told that Campbell is back home in New Jersey.
Losing one pledge in such a small class is tough enough. But Campbell's teammate, four-star safety Keon Sabb, parting ways earlier this week could already be chalked up to wandering eyes after he and family members checked out Michigan for the Ohio State game two weeks ago.
Perception is as important as reality because it often turns self-fulfilling. And whether it amounts to cause or effect, Campbell's defection now creates the image that recruits are bailing on Clemson. And so the spiral tends to go.
All eyes turn to the third of the IMG triumvirate that highlighted Clemson's commitment list, four-star cornerback Daylen Everette.
We don't have any hard information disclosing Everette's intent or thinking; he has stayed among the tightest-lipped among Clemson's pledges throughout the process.
Yet we have heard Georgia is working on him behind the scenes, and that in and of itself warrants the triggering of alarms under the circumstances.
UGA was a finalist for Everette for the first go-round and has its hooks in with several of his IMG teammates -- not to mention is a recruiting power one doesn't want around its commitments.
On his own merits, we argued Campbell to be one of the two or three most important acquisitions for Clemson this cycle. Edge-rushers come at a premium regardless, and the Tigers are in short supply of -- or in dire need of, depending on one's opinion -- a dynamic, young presence to fill the roles about to be vacated by Clemson's top-heavy veteran depth chart.
His departure leaves Clemson without a single defensive line commitment, and there do not appear to be replacement candidates near his ballpark or options with whom the Tigers look in the mix at this time.
The transfer portal provides the theoretical opportunity to mitigate recruiting misses and bandage bleeding when utilized and evaluated well. So it's not as if there aren't increased solutions to short-term issues.
Yet as the early signing period rapidly approaches, Swinney's first and foremost challenge is calming the storm that's enveloping the program. -- PAUL STRELOW
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Happy Holidays! More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Tony Elliott said today he has yet to make a decision about his future.
Elliott briefly spoke with reporters today after returning to the Clemson area from Charlottesville.
Elliott confirmed that he has a decision to make after meeting with Virginia administrators. Elliott and his family made the trip to Charlottesville yesterday before returning late this afternoon.
Our information indicates Elliott is still very much in play at Duke as well. The Blue Devils put their search process on pause Thursday while waiting on word from Elliott's visit to Virginia. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko is reportedly the other finalist for that job.
When Elliott departed for Virginia on Wednesday, all signs pointed to a deal getting done. But Elliott now appears torn among the two opportunities and remaining at his alma mater, where he has coached the last 11 seasons including the past seven as offensive coordinator.
Heading into an official recruiting visit weekend in Clemson, longtime offensive coordinator and UVA/Duke candidate Tony Elliott still has a decision to make. (US Presswire)
According to people close to Elliott, he is planning to meet with Dabo Swinney. We are told remaining in Clemson is very much in play for him.
Meanwhile, Michigan assistant Josh Gattis appears to now be in consideration for the Virginia job if Elliott declines.
After Bronco Mendenhall abruptly resigned, Virginia supposedly had a deal done with Penn State assistant Anthony Poindexter but negotiations broke down.
As recently as late Wednesday night, people close to Elliott thought the deal with Virginia was going to get done.
Initially, Elliott was a finalist for the job and was told by Virginia on Monday that the Cavaliers were going in a different direction. But then Virginia AD Carla Williams called him on Tuesday night and asked him and his family to come to Charlottesville for a formal interview.
Elliott met in person with Duke administrators on Sunday in the Clemson area. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
That one is going to sting a little more.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell's decommitment Thursday is a big loss not only for his individual talent, but for the flammable log it represents on the fire Clemson is trying to put out.
As we've expressed, there is considerable uncertainty from prospect camps right now as they see a proliferation of headlines illustrating turnover at Clemson -- change at athletics director, change at defensive coordinator, and an expected change at offensive coordinator among others.
Campbell told Rivals.com that Clemson has told him Mickey Conn and Wes Goodwin will serve as defensive coordinators going forward.
While Dabo Swinney made his in-person stop at IMG today, we are told that Campbell is back home in New Jersey.
Losing one pledge in such a small class is tough enough. But Campbell's teammate, four-star safety Keon Sabb, parting ways earlier this week could already be chalked up to wandering eyes after he and family members checked out Michigan for the Ohio State game two weeks ago.
Perception is as important as reality because it often turns self-fulfilling. And whether it amounts to cause or effect, Campbell's defection now creates the image that recruits are bailing on Clemson. And so the spiral tends to go.
All eyes turn to the third of the IMG triumvirate that highlighted Clemson's commitment list, four-star cornerback Daylen Everette.
We don't have any hard information disclosing Everette's intent or thinking; he has stayed among the tightest-lipped among Clemson's pledges throughout the process.
Yet we have heard Georgia is working on him behind the scenes, and that in and of itself warrants the triggering of alarms under the circumstances.
UGA was a finalist for Everette for the first go-round and has its hooks in with several of his IMG teammates -- not to mention is a recruiting power one doesn't want around its commitments.
On his own merits, we argued Campbell to be one of the two or three most important acquisitions for Clemson this cycle. Edge-rushers come at a premium regardless, and the Tigers are in short supply of -- or in dire need of, depending on one's opinion -- a dynamic, young presence to fill the roles about to be vacated by Clemson's top-heavy veteran depth chart.
His departure leaves Clemson without a single defensive line commitment, and there do not appear to be replacement candidates near his ballpark or options with whom the Tigers look in the mix at this time.
The transfer portal provides the theoretical opportunity to mitigate recruiting misses and bandage bleeding when utilized and evaluated well. So it's not as if there aren't increased solutions to short-term issues.
Yet as the early signing period rapidly approaches, Swinney's first and foremost challenge is calming the storm that's enveloping the program. -- PAUL STRELOW
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Happy Holidays! More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
