Clemson Football: Recruiting Update – Running Back
Dabo Swinney has always said an offer from Clemson football should mean something and to that end while other schools are throwing out offers by the dozens, the Tigers are very selective in their process.
We’ve detailed how there are only two quarterback offers out for the 2023 class and now we know there are currently only three at running back.
To date, Clemson has offered just three RBs in the 2023 class. Richard Young and Justice Haynes have long held offers, with Cedric Baxter picking up one last month. Could Jeremiah Cobb, out of Montogomery, Alabama, be next?
— Jason Priester (@JP_Priester) March 27, 2022
The three the Tigers have offered to date are the cream of the cream. Richard Young is the top running back in the 2023 cycle, Justice Haynes the third and Cedric Baxter fourth.
Remember, while the Tigers are seemingly set at running back for the next couple seasons with Will Shipley, Kobe Pace and Phil Mafah, the ability for players to enter the transfer portal at any time has changed the game.
Though, as I pointed out recently, post-spring game is an optimal time for transfers to announce their intentions to move on as the semester is coming to an end and the depth chart may not reflect a players feelings on where he belongs in the pecking order.
Clemson did sign legacy prospect Keith Adams, Jr. in 2022, but Adams was a fall back option after the Tigers missed on several prospects, including Trevor Etienne.
While nothing is set in stone, Haynes currently has a couple of Crystal Ball predictions for Georgia and that makes sense given his hometown of Roswell, Georgia.
The other two candidates appear to be more wide open at this point, but my read is Young is likely a long shot for the Tigers, hence the interest in Jeremiah Cobb, a 4 star, but lower rated back out of Montgomery, AL.
The Tigers strategy of making a few offers is the polar opposite of most teams way of recruiting and it has served the program well.
In my mind though, Clemson needs an elite, or at least very good, running back this cycle and it looks like at least two of the top three targets will be headed elsewhere, creating a need to expand the board.
That’s one issue with so few offers: the misses set you back a lot more than if you had more offers out at the position.
Dabo Swinney and staff have chosen this strategy and it’s worked well to this point. Will it continue to work moving forward is the big question.