Clemson Football Recruiting: Kelvin Joseph Offer Breakdown
The Clemson Tigers have got off to a hot start on the recruiting trail this spring, extending offers to multiple prospects in the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes. Here’s my breakdown of four-star 2018 defensive back prospect, Kelvin Joseph.
Kelvin Joseph is currently commited to the LSU Tigers, however, Clemson has shown the ability in the past to sway elite prospects. Just last year, Dabo Swinney and his staff were able to pull four-star RB Travis Etienne Jr. from the grasp of Ed Orgeron and LSU.
Strengths:
Kelvin Joseph’s biggest strength is his elite range, he displays the ability to cover the entirety of the field from his safety position. There are multiple instances on film of Joseph starting in the middle of the field and making a play on the ball near the numbers. Which leads me to Joseph’s other strength, instincts.
Kelvin Joseph’s instincts burst off of the tape. His scary range is complemented perfectly by his feel for the game and his ability to quickly diagnose where opposing quarterbacks are going with the football.
Joseph is also dangerous as a return man, serving as the primary return man for his high school team. Once Joseph gets his hands on the football he is looking to take it the distance.
Need:
I wouldn’t go as far as saying Clemson is in need of a safety prospect in this class, however, Joseph’s play-making ability would fit perfectly in Brent Venables’ aggressive scheme.
The Tigers already hold a commitment from South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick who projects as a defensive back at the next level, but, it is not clear whether he intends to play corner or safety yet.
Outlook:
Clemson has their work cut out for them in the recruitment of Kelvin Joseph as LSU has one of the top staff’s in the country in terms of recruiting. That being said, if any school can pull a heist of Joseph it would be Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
The Tigers are coming off of a National Championship and do not have as crowded a secondary as LSU does year-in-year-out. The key for Clemson is getting Joseph on campus for either their All In cookout over the summer or an official visit during the fall, ideally both. With the family atmosphere in Death Valley and the new state-of-the-art facilities, Clemson has a good chance of landing just about any prospect that takes a visit.
Next: Tigers Making Good Impression on 3 Texas Prospects