For the second season in a row, Clemson football and South Carolina are battling for a in-state blue-chip defensive end. Last recruiting cycle saw the Tigers’ come out on top, this year it appears the Gamecocks will win out.
Over the past five seasons, the Clemson football program has emerged as a recruiting juggernaut. The Tigers’ have signed a total of 11 five-star recruits over the past five recruiting cycles. That includes 2018 signee, Xavier Thomas.
A former Wilson high school star, Thomas was being heavily recruited by both Clemson and South Carolina. The Tigers eventually won out, securing a pledge from the blue-chip defensive end at the 2017 Orange and White game.
Fast forward a year later and the Tigers and Gamecocks find themselves in yet another recruiting battle for 4-star in-state prospect, Zacch Pickens.
Zacch Pickens
At 6-foot-4, 268 pounds, Pickens is rated as the No. 1 overall player in the state of South Carolina. Starring for TL Hanna high school, Pickens appeared to be destined for Death Valley early on in his recruitment.
It appears things have changed. South Carolina has received four consecutive crystal ball predictions for Pickens over the past few months. They now hold a majority lead over Clemson in that department.
Although Pickens is a talented defensive lineman and Clemson is a defensive lineman factory, the Tigers already have a surplus along the front seven. The fact that Clemson can afford to sit a pair of 5-star defensive ends (Xavier Thomas & KJ Henry) on the sideline just shows their absurd riches at the position.
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With that one can understand why Pickens might lean towards South Carolina. It’s one thing for a blue-chip recruit to be a rotational player as a freshman. It’s an entirely different story to be buried with the 3rd team defense due to the immense talent already on campus.
There is still plenty of time left in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Clemson has pulled out top-flight recruits late into recruiting cycles before. Regardless of where Pickens ends up, he is going to be one heck of a college football player.