Clemson football missed out on a top defensive back target on Monday evening as Danny Odem picked Nebraska over the Tigers and a few other top programs.
It was a tough loss considering Odem was one of the most coveted defensive back recruits in the 2026 class and he was just on campus not too long ago.
But despite this loss of Odem to Nebraska, Dabo Swinney and Clemson have options and backup plans. Heck, the Tigers haven't even exhausted their Plan A targets which is going to make the 2026 class a special one.
One of those Plan A guys is Blake Stewart, a four-star safety from Atlanta, Ga.
Shortly after missing on Odem, the Tigers received some major predictions to land Stewart over Michigan, Miami, and Vanderbilt from On3's Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons. Clemson also has two 247Sports crystal balls to land Stewart.
On3’s @SWiltfong_ and @ChadSimmons_ have logged expert predictions for Clemson to land 4-star safety Blake Stewart🐅
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 24, 2025
Read: https://t.co/AeSDVIGtUc pic.twitter.com/bc1cerTNX9
This is a great development for the 2026 recruiting class and it feels like momentum is sliding back to Clemson's side after a quiet couple of weeks to end official visit season.
Clemson has the No. 6 recruiting class in the country and it's recently landed guys like Leo Delaney, Carter Scruggs, and Dre Quinn but it's been a relatively normal official visit stretch for the Tigers. Not too hot, not too cold. But I think the post-official visit season results will be extremely positive considering the type of talent Clemson is going after still.
Stewart, the No. 308 overall recruit in the class, would be Clemson's third safety commit in 2026. He's ranked the No. 24 safety in the country, per the 247Sports Composite, and he holds 43 offers.
Dabo and Co. could be on commit watch.