Clemson Football gets commitment from defensive prospect

Clemson Football has received another commitment from a 2024 defensive prospect.

Joe Wilkinson from Rome, Georgia has committed to Mickey Conn and the Clemson Tigers.

Wilkinson is 6’-1” and 195 pounds. He is listed as a linebacker on 247Sports, but it looks like he will be repping the safety position for the Tigers.

Wilkinson played at Rome High School. He is rated as a 3-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite.

Wilkinson was verbally committed to Appalachian State until he received an offer from Clemson. He decommitted from the Mountaineers over the weekend.

He is the second player in this cycle that Clemson flipped from Appalachian State, following offensive lineman Watson Young. Young is a Clemson legacy and flipped in early December.

In addition to App State, Wilkinson had offers from Memphis, Liberty, East Carolina, and UNLV, among other Group of Five schools. Clemson is his first Power conference offer.

If this news catches you a little by surprise, it’s alright. Wilkinson was flying far enough below the radar that most Clemson fans didn’t even know he was a target until the last few days.

Wilkinson started his high school career playing cornerback for Rome but then made the change to safety.

"“I want to hit. I fell in love with hitting as soon as they moved me to safety.  There’s no feeling like filling the alley and laying the boom on someone.”"

- Joe Wilkinson

That broad experience playing both cornerback and safety in high school could make Wilkinson a good candidate for the hybrid nickel/safety position that has been filled in recent years by Andrew Mukuba and Khalil Barnes.

With Mukuba transferring to Texas, Barnes will be the starter in that position in 2024, but Wilkinson could be part of the depth if he acclimates quickly.

Wilkinson becomes the 19th member of the 2024 Class.