Clemson football: Younger brothers have to forge their own paths

Clemson football has gotten to the point that they attract elite athletes from all over the country and in many instances, families have more than just one elite-level athlete.

Over the last couple of weeks, current Clemson football players have gotten unofficial visits from elite players such as Trevor Etienne and Matayo Uiagalelei – Trevor is the younger brother of former Tigers running back Travis Etienne and Matayo is the younger brother of current starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.

While it would be great to sign the younger members of the Clemson football family, they ultimately have to go where they believe they can forge a pathway and make a name for themselves and that may not be at Clemson.

In 2020, Clemson football wide receiver Joseph Ngata younger brother, Daniyel Ngata, decided Arizona State was the best fit for him despite holding a Clemson offer.

Clemson football isn’t for everyone and that is okay

Whether or not Trevor and Matayo decide to become part of the Clemson football family and don the orange and purple will have zero bearings on their ability to be great elsewhere and they will always be part of and connected to the Clemson family.

Would it be great to sign the two of them? Of course, but not because of their brothers but rather because of what they bring as individuals on and off the football field. If you changed their last names they would have still earned a Clemson football scholarship offer because of who they are and that is important to remember.

The same goes for 2023 corner Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of former Tigers first-round draft pick AJ Terrell. Matter of fact, Avieon was the first to garner a Clemson offer in the class of 2023.

All three of these young men have dozens of offers and should take their time deciding what pathway is best for them on their own journeys. If they decide this pathway to success comes through Clemson University and Death Valley, that would be amazing but more important than that, these young men need to feel a part of something bigger than themselves and if they get that sense somewhere else, then that is where they should go.

There is a lot of time left before young men have to make their college decisions for the Class of 2022 and 2023 and players will need all of that time to take their visits in order to weigh the pros and cons of where they will attend.

Clemson football will be waiting.