Clemson football: Top prospects that Tigers need to get on campus

Clemson football has to get prospects on campus in one way or another

The Clemson football coaching staff currently has a total of four prospects committed for the 2022 class, but things will start to heat up as we move closer to the summer and get into the fall.

The Tigers have taken their time in terms of their top targets and their focus when it comes to dishing out offers.

Now, as we approach the month of April, we’re going to see a more focused effort on the prospects atop their big board at each specific position.

Unfortunately, Clemson football is still dealing with a decision made by the NCAA to not allow visits by prospects on campus.

Prospects can take self-guided tours around campus- just as any student can- but they have to do so on their own dime and can’t have any contact with coaches or members of the program while they’re there.

The NCAA Football Oversight Committee is expected to end the current ‘dead period’ and allow a ‘quiet period’ to commence beginning June 1st, which would allow recruits to visit campus, meet with coaches and run through individual workouts.

Whether or not that takes place, Clemson football needs to get this extensive list of prospects on campus, even if they’re just for a self-guided tour

To break this down, we’re going to put the prospects in three different categories.

A visit would recreate interest or put Tigers back firmly in the conversation

• Trevor Etienne (4-star RB)
• Jaleel Skinner (4-star TE)
• Jake Johnson (4-star TE)
• Walter Nolen (5-star DT)
• Daylen Everette (4-star CB)

These are some of the top targets for Clemson in the 2022 recruiting class who have just seemingly cooled on the Tigers.

Trevor Etienne still likely favors Clemson and he has been to Tiger Town many times, but a visit could really heat up the conversation.

Jaleel Skinner was considered a lock to Clemson for quite some time, but now Florida is his leader. The Tigers need to get the in-state prospect back on campus to slow some of that momentum.

The last one we’ll touch here in 5-star DT Walter Nolen. There was interest from Nolen when the Tigers first offered nearly a year ago, but that has since cooled off. Clemson is still likely in his top five and a visit could put the Tigers back in the discussion as a legitimate contender.

A visit could put Clemson in the conversation for the first real time

• Jeremiah Alexander (5-star DE)
• Cyrus Moss (4-star DE)
• Alex VanSumeren (4-star DT)

Jeremiah Alexander has visited Clemson a couple of times, but the Tigers have never really been in the discussion. Getting him back on campus, though, could be the momentum needed to nab the top defensive end.

Both Cyrus Moss and Alex VanSumeren have never visited, but there’s legitimate interest in Clemson football. The Tigers already have their foot in the door with both prospects, but they could become legitimate contenders if they could get them on campus.

A visit could ‘seal the deal’

• Kiyaunta Goodwin (4-star OT)
• Kenyatta Jackson (4-star DE)
• Travis Shaw (5-star DT)
• Toriano Pride (4-star CB)
• Brenen Thompson (4-star WR)

We’re not saying that all five of these guys would commit if they visited Clemson. For example, Travis Shaw just took a self-guided tour around Clemson.

However, if the Tigers could get them on campus and allow the coaching staff a chance to drop their recruiting pitch, we could see magic with these five prospects.

There are a few others who could be on this list, but we didn’t list every guy that Clemson leads for because we’re not so sure that many of those prospects- like 4-star LB Jalon Walker or 4-star CB Jeadyn Lukus– even need a visit before they would commit.

The guys listed above, however, probably need to be on campus at least one more time (or for the first time) before they commit.