National Signing Day used to be held the first week of February. The anticipation and the hullabaloo were always at a high pitch and everyone was buzzing. There was always a mish mash of prospects committing early and other prospects holding out till Signing Day itself and playing the “jersey under the sweater” card or playing “juggling hats”, or simply pulling a hat out of the bag under the table.
Clemson fans have lived through some pretty exciting signing days but have had their share of disappointments as well. Who can forget the day in 2011 when Stephon Anthony made his commitment on ESPN on signing day.
Recently, Clemson’s Signing Day surprises have been far and few as Coach Dabo Swinney and his staff has routinely had their class already full and the day itself was rather anticlimactic with every one that committed simply just sent in their LOI and that was that.
This year is not much different than the last few. To date, the Tigers have received 18 commitments, most recently adding 4-star cornerback Nathaniel Wiggins out of Atlanta, Georgia. Wiggins has been committed to LSU but with the way that program is going, his flip is not surprising. Speaking of LSU, there are a few other players that looked headed there but could end up in the REAL Death Valley. Keep that under your hat for the time being.
Tomorrow, you’re going to see a very talented class signing with Dabo and the Tigers. 5-star linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., is the highest rated player in the 2021 class, ranked as the #1 outside linebacker in the country, according to ESPN. Trotter will join a group of six other defensive players ready to come in and play for DC Brent Venables. Payton Page (#4 DT), Barrett Carter (#12 OLB), Cade Denhoff (#10 DE), Andrew Mukuba (#5 S), Nathaniel Wiggins (#15 CB), and Zaire Patterson (#29 DE). This group is part of the “Clemson Reload” program. Do not be surprised to see a surprise or two at the last minute to add to this group.
Offensively, 4-star Will Shipley (some say 4-star, other sites say 5-star) leads the way offensively for this group. All Shipley did last year was rush for over 2000+ yards with 30 touchdowns, and haul in 34 passes for another 582 yards and 8 more touchdowns. He is ranked as the #2 running back in the country. He will be joined in the backfield by 4-star Phil Mafah (#13 RB). WRU will get an influx of talent, bringing in 4-star receivers Beaux Collins (#3 WR), Dacari Collins (#23 WR) and slot man Troy Stellato (#46 WR). In addition, 4-star TE Jake Briningstool (#2 TE) will be joining the receiving crew. Leave us not forget the “road graders”, the offensive line group. The tigers are bringing in 4-star linemen Marcus Tate (#17 OT), Dedrick Pennington (#9 OG) and Ryan Linthicum (#4 C) into the fold and will provide challenges to the five freshmen in the 2020 class. This position is probably the deepest it has been in a long time. The 2022 class is already off to a good start with two 4-star commitments.
Quarterback commit Bubba Chandler (#25 QB-PP) was a one-time baseball commit to Georgia but quickly changed his tune when the Tigers came calling with an offer to play football. Chandler looks to be a pretty good pitcher in his own right and could see action in both sports.
Will Taylor is an interesting prospect, also a two-sport athlete competing in football and baseball. All Taylor did was helped lead Dutch Fork High School to their 5th straight State Championship and help extend their winning streak to 50 straight games without a loss. He threw for over 2200 yards with 21 TD passes and only 4 interceptions, while also rushing for another 448 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Preferred walk-ons tend to get a lot of press, especially when they choose Clemson over full-ride scholarships at other schools. Last year, QB Hunter Helms decommitted from Holy Cross to come to Clemson as a PWO. This year, there are a couple of more that may end up doing the same thing.
Billy WIles is a quarterback out of Ashburn, Virginia, who had committed to Tulane in April. He received a PWO offer to Clemson on December 4th, and a week later decommitted from Tulane. Does this mean he will accept the PWO to Clemson? Maybe, maybe not. Right after he decommitted, Dominion University extended an offer. Who? Dominion. They postponed their entire season earlier this year.
Hayden Neighbors is another name no one will recognize. He is a 6-3 185lb WR out of Huntsville, Alabama. As a senior, Neighbors caught 27 passes for 544 yards and 4 TD receptions. He also received a PWO offer from the Tigers at the end of October.
TE Banks Pope out of AC Flora High School down in Columbia, SC, committed to Appalachian State back in mid-June. Monday, Pope decommitted and is rumored to be headed to Clemson as a PWO. The 6-5 240 Pope helped lead AC Flora to a AAAA State Championship and a #2 ranking behind Dutch Fork.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Clemson recruiting as the Tigers put together their 2021 football recruiting class.
