2018 RB recruit Master Teague III talks recruiting and Clemson

4-star running back, Master Teague III is one of the top running backs in the country with offers from a host of major division one schools.

The spring evaluation period is beginning to pick up and with that comes a flood of offers for rising juniors, seniors and even sophomores in high school.

Master Teague III of Murfreesboro Tennessee, is being actively recruited by Clemson, however he is waiting on a scholarship offer from the Tigers.

When asked about the time table for an offer Teague replied, “Basically, I talked to coach Elliott and he was saying he’s got four guys he’s looking at and he wants to come to my spring practice to see how I run, see how I move and if he likes it he might give me an offer then or close to that time.”

Teague detailed his contact with co-offensive coordinator, Tony Elliott.

“I haven’t been texting back and forth a lot, but the coach I’ve been communicating with a little bit is coach Elliot. Before I went on the visit, I was actually communicating a little bit with coach Caldwell, but, I’ve been calling coach Elliott every week now.

At the moment Teague is hovering around 5’11, 211 pounds, majority of which is muscle as is evident in his recent 500 pounds squat during a lifting session at his high school.

I asked Teague about his development going into his senior season. Here is what he had to offer.

“’I’ve been getting faster, I am faster now than last season, but I’m still working on gaining this weight and trying to maintain speed. I’ve been speed training and working out hard, getting better and getting faster.”

“I want to get better at my pass blocking and I’ve been getting better at catching the ball, those are the two areas I want to improve on.”

When asked about his strengths as a player, Teague’s answer was mature and to the point.

“I hit the hole quick, get north and south, I don’t do a lot of shifting and moving I just try to get to the end-zone as quick as possible.” 

This answer perfectly depicts Teague’s mentality as both a person and a player, he is modest and comfortable with himself. Later on in our conversation Teague explained how he dealt with the pressure of the recruiting process.

“I’d say every offer, every contact is a blessing, I just don’t approach life like I am better than anybody.” 

“I am a humble person, I just want to enjoy being with people and bonding.”

Teague recently released his list of top schools.

I asked Teague if he was planning on trimming that list down once more before coming to his decision.

“Yes we plan on trimming it down a little bit, hopefully next time we’ll trim it down to about seven or I don’t know exactly how much, but we want to trim it down one more time.”

“I am not sure if I will make a decision from there, but I know we want to make a decision by summer. Some time in the summer.”

Teague detailed what factors will play into the trimming of his list.

“Really just praying over it, praying about it and really feeling what the lord tells us. Like I said, what schools are going to best prepare me and how they develop their players.”

Obviously, Teague has his fair share of options. When asked who was recruiting him the hardest at the moment he offered this.

“I have to say Tennessee because they send me a lot of things in the mail. Four or five coaches talk to me and message me, they also DM me on twitter.”

Teague also named one of the Vols coaches as the most interesting personality he’s come across on the recruiting trail, “At Tennessee, coach Walt Wells, he’s a character.”

From the sounds of it, Clemson has some work to do to gain ground on the hometown Vols and some of the other programs that have already offered Teague. I asked Teague about the possibility of taking an official visit to Clemson, here’s what he had to offer.

“I am not sure, because I know that I want to make a decision this summer and after I make that commitment I don’t want to take any official visits unless it’s to the school that I am committed to.”

Though Clemson may be a little behind in his recruitment, Teague was impressed with their staff and facilities on his recent junior day visit.

“Oh yea it was crazy, the weight room is huge but it was a good visit seeing all the facilities and the other rooms so I thought it was a good visit.”

“I liked when coach swinney was talking to all the recruits and basically what he believes in and how he runs the program so I thought that was great.”

“They just seem like they are all real passionate, they seem like they are all Christian men. They bring their faith to the team and I think that’s real great. The culture is about building their players, they try to build them as men and as people outside of football and I think that’s great.”

Although Teague expressed his affinity for more power-oriented offensive systems, he is open to the idea of playing in Clemson’s spread offense.

“I think I could, if I feel like that’s the right place for me, where I can grow the most then I’ll do that, but like I said, I like that power.”

Dabo Swinney and his staff place an emphasis on academics, Teague shares that same sentiment.

“

Of course I want to get a degree, I am not sure what I want to major in quite yet. I am not sure if I want to finish in three or four years but I definitely want to get that degree.”

Let’s face it, with a name like Master, Teague will immediately have one of the best names in all of college football as a freshman. Here’s how Teague got his name.

“Well my great grandad was named Master Lee Teague and then my grandad is Master William Teague. So my great grandad, my grandad and it skipped my dad and I got it.” 

I have no doubts that Master Teague III will have a successful collegiate career regardless of where he ends up. Teague is as grounded a kid as you will meet. His goals for the next level are music to every college coach’s ear.

“Just to play my hardest and give my all and play for Christ. I will allow christ to handle the stats and everything, I just want to play as a team and help my team win. Whatever I can do to help my team win”

Hopefully Dabo Swinney and his staff will be able to outlast the plethora of schools vying for Teague’s services as he would be a great addition to the Clemson backfield and locker room.

Next: In-state prospects to watch in the 2018 recruiting class

Be sure to stay tuned to Rubbingtherock.com for updates on Master Teague III and all things Clemson recruiting as the off-season moves along.