It was not just another top 15 win for the Tigers on Saturday for Clemson football, there were also plenty of recruits on hand and a couple of offers to a position of needs were made.
Clemson made two running back offers, one for a top name in the Class of 2024 and another for a running back in the 2023 cycle that has some fans questioning what exactly is happening (or not) recruiting-wise at the position.
The Tigers offered 2024 four-star running back David Eziomume of Kennesaw, Georgia, who’s listed as a 6’1, 170 pound athlete in the 247sports.com database.
Eziomume claims offers from multiple SEC schools, some in the Big Ten and several in the ACC and Jason Priester of AllClemson.com indicates he projects as one of the top backs in the 2024 cycle.
The 2023 offer went out to Jamarius Haynes of Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama.
Haynes is listed as 6’0 and 175 pounds and reports that Clemson is his first offer.
After a great conversation with @CJSPILLER I am Blessed to receive my first offer from Clemson University🟠🟣#clemson @coachski_ @Rivals @On3Recruits @ChadSimmons_ @ClemsonFB pic.twitter.com/lrt11ntEKt
— Jamarius Haynes (@JAYHaynes04) October 22, 2022
Clemson has repeatedly missed on their running back offers in the 2023 cycle and it’s curious that they’ve now targeted a lightly recruited running back with apparently no other offers this late in the 2023 cycle.
This is one where fans are torn between thinking this shows “desperation” while there’s a faction that simply trusts the coaches.
I think the writing is on the wall as far as running back goes in the 2023 class and it’s likely not going to be what’s expected at Clemson.
Clemson football makes another running back offer for the 2023 cycle
It’s clear that the staff wants a back in this class, not matter where they go to find one.
That’s not always a bad thing as Clemson is a developmental program in large part.
That said, if nothing changes between now and the end of the 2023 cycle, this will be the second straight cycle without a blue chip back, as the only running back signed last year was 3 star Keith Adams, Jr.
That makes getting a big-time running back in the 2024 cycle who can come in ready to play even more imperative.