The Clemson football coaching staff has some ground to make up this summer as the 2022 class begins to come together.
The Tigers are currently ranked outside the top-20 with just four commitments in the class. All four commitments are rated as 4-stars, according to the 247 Sports’ Composite Player Rankings, and there are a few others who might be joining them soon.
Clemson has intentionally been slow in recruiting during this cycle because of the expectation that visits would be allowed at some point in the summer. Now, with the NCAA lifting the dead period, and visits beginning in June, the Tigers have to begin to zero-in on their top prospects at several key positions.
The latest offer from Clemson football is a 4-star defensive end from the Sunshine State.
4-star DE Nyjalik Kelly announced that he had received an offer from Clemson on Monday afternoon.
Blessed to receive an offer from university of Clemson @coachski_ @CoachVenables @TEAM_TATE_FLA @Dillard_DHS @SWiltfong247 @AABonNBC @SleeperAth1etes pic.twitter.com/2XVMvY5K2o
— . (@nyjalikkelly) May 10, 2021
Kelly, who is rated as the No. 11 SDE in the nation and the No. 24 overall player from the state of Florida, is the 10th defensive end offer dished out by the Tigers.
With the potential of losing as many as four defensive ends after this season- Xavier Thomas, Regan Upshaw, KJ Henry and Justin Mascoll- and the expectation that the Tigers will likely lose at least two, Clemson will take at least one defensive end in this class with a solid chance that it takes multiple at the position.
Right now, the biggest names to watch are:
- 5-star Shemar Stewart
- 4-star Jihaad Campbell
- 4-star DJ Wesolak
- 4-star Kenyatta Jackson
- 4-star Cyrus Moss
We should also add Kelly to the board, as well.
Clemson has not tipped its hand as to what direction it is leaning or how these defensive ends stack up on the recruiting board, but we have to believe that these are the six DEs that the Tigers will spend the most time in contact with as we head into the summer.
As far as Kelly is concerned, this is an intriguing prospect. He still has development, but he has nice measurables at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He sets a hard-edge and shows great explosiveness.
Kelly committed to Florida State back in 2020, but decommitted from the Seminoles last month.