Rising recruits don’t sleep any more, and Dabo Swinney is already raising the flags for the 2028 class. The most recent high profile name on the visitor list? Fort Worth native Damarion “Champ” Mays, who has officially secured an unofficial visit to Death Valley on April 11.
Mays isn’t a quick glance on the radar; arguably, he is the most electric pass-catcher in Texas for his cycle at least now. That North Crowley star ranks among players in the state of Texas at No. 6 wide receiver in the 2028 class, as the 247Sports Composite showed.
Mays’ nickname isn’t just a handle — it can be seen as a nod to a freshman year that resembled a video game stat line. Playing for Dallas Life Oak Cliff before transferring to North Crowley, Mays would burn opposing secondaries to the tune of:
68 Receptions.
1,640 Yards.
14 Touchdowns.
24.1 Yards Per Catch.
At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Mays is the perfect “Length and Speed” character who Clemson seems to have favored in recent years. He has the all-important verticality of a “deep ball” specialist while carrying the tactical nuance of a veteran.
A visit to Clemson in April is a strategic victory. Mays is currently on a lucrative “six-school tour” of the heavyweight men of collegiate football: Ohio State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and SMU. Whereas Ohio State and LSU often rely on their own former “Wide Receiver U” reputations for success and the closeness of the SEC schools, the angle from Clemson is unique.
Swinney and his team will concentrate on their distinct type of player development and a culture that prioritizes life after the field—a sentiment that has not yet lost influence among elite families in the Dallas-Fort Worth vicinity.
Nothing “Crystal Ball” prediction has been made yet on Mays, but the Tigers are getting a look at Mays to ensure they’re in the building before the blue-blood bidding war is at its most intense. By getting Mays on campus this spring, Clemson isn’t just assessing a prospect; it’s saying they’re going to be a power player in the hunt for the best talent in Texas.
On April 11, the Tigers will have the opportunity to make this unofficial visit a big one and cement Mays’ commitment to preserving the future of the Clemson offense.