Clemson football has signed just one prospect from the state of Louisiana in Dabo Swinney’s 10 seasons in Death Valley. The Tigers are looking to increase their presence in the Bayou state in the 2019 recruiting cycle.
Heading into the 2017 season, I discussed how Travis Etienne was the sole member of the Clemson football program from the state of Louisiana.
Before Etienne, the last Louisiana native to sign with the Tigers was Nick Watkins in 2003. Early on in the 2019 recruiting cycle, Clemson is trying to make a major push in the Bayou state.
2019 Targets
The Tigers have already extended scholarship offers to five prospects from Louisiana in the 2019 class.
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- Ishmael Sopsher: 5-star defensive tackle out of Amite high school in Amite, Louisiana.
- Donte Starks: 3-star inside linebacker out of John Ehret high school in Marrero, Louisiana.
- Bryton Constantin: 3-star outside linebacker out of University Lab high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Derek Stingley: 5-star cornerback out of Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Devin Bush: 4-star cornerback out of Karr high school in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Obviously, pulling blue-chip prospects out of Louisiana is easier said than done. LSU is a national recruiting power, with considerable pull in their own back yard.
As such it’s no surprise that LSU is the perceived favorites in the recruitment of, Sopsher, Starks, Stingley and Bush.
On the bright side of things, Clemson has received three crystal ball predictions for Constantin, after extending a scholarship offer just yesterday.
Moving forward
While Clemson may be on the outside looking in for majority of their targets in the Bayou state, there is plenty of time left in the 2019 cycle.
I expect the Tigers to gain considerable momentum during the 2018 season.
LSU is trending in the wrong direction under Ed Orgeron and I don’t see things getting any better this season. Clemson however, is expected to be in the thick of the National Championship conversation again this upcoming fall.
Next: How many ranked matchups will the Tigers have in 2018?
Elite prospects want to play for National Championships and they will have a much better opportunity to do so at Clemson. This is exactly the type of ammunition Swinney and company need to lure prospects away from an in-state power.