Clemson Football Recruiting: What latest 2023 running back offer means

Many Clemson football fans are bewildered that the Tigers and running backs coach C.J. Spiller can’t seem to find a running back for the Class of 2023.

This frustration is compounded by the coaching staff’s insistence of the “one offer at a time” approach to the position, where the Tigers offer a single running back and wait until the signs are clear that the interest isn’t mutual and then move on.

The latest offer went out Sunday to Jamarion Wilcox of South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Georgia.

Wilcox has a smattering of Power 5 offers, but is not rated in the stratosphere that Clemson typically recruits in which shows the struggle the Tigers are having gaining a commitment with Will Shipley, Kobe Pace and Phil Mafah all getting carries, plus a young Keith Adams, Jr. looking pretty good in action against Louisiana Tech.

Even more concerning is Wilcox, despite being impressed by the visit to Clemson last Saturday, the atmosphere in Death Valley and the coaching staff, is in no hurry to commit as he has set no date and “hopes” to get back to Clemson at some point this fall.

Sigh.

If the coaches don’t change their one at a time philosophy this could mean Clemson enters the early signing period with no running back committed or offered, for that matter, if Wilcox chooses to go elsewhere.

One option for Clemson football is to sign a more “diamond in the rough” type back this year and prioritizing the position in 2024, especially with an in-state talent such as Traevon Dunbar.

On the other hand, the coaches likely have, or will have, a feel on Wilcox before he commits, meaning he may simply want to take other visits prior to committing.  I don’t know that, I’m simply stating a scenario of why the staff wouldn’t offer another back while Wilcox remains uncommitted.

The “one at a time” may be frustrating, but it’s hard to argue with running back recruiting that has netted Shipley, Pace and Mafah, though C.J. Spiller is new at the recruiting game.

There’s some thought that Clemson may eventually decide to sign a developmental type running back in 2023 and go hard and heavy on a bigger name in 2024 and each day that passes without a commitment at the position makes me wonder if that could be the case.