Clemson Football Recruiting: Updates on 2013 Commits and Targets

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson football has had a dramatic year as far as recruiting is concerned, but Dabo Swinney and his program are poised to finish strong. 

Clemson is one of the top recruiting draws in the country and Swinney is a great recruiter.

His 2013 class may not be as strong as it once was back when No. 1 overall recruit Robert Nkemdiche was a commitment (he decommited in November), but when all is said and done, Clemson recruiting will be just fine.

If you're a fan of Clemson football or even just college football recruiting in general, consider this to be your "one-stop shop" for Clemson recruiting.

You'll find all the news, analysis and updates on commitments and targets that you'll ever need right here.

Note: All 2012 stats via 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Latest News

Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Update: 4-star outside linebacker and Clemson commitment Dorian O'Daniel was very productive in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American game. O'Daniel notched three tackles. --End of Update 1/5/13

Update: 3-Star DE Ebenezer Ogundeko commits to Clemson in the Under Armour All-American Bowl on 1/4/13.

Update: 4-star wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has decommited from Clemson twice now, but the Clemson Tigers are still in the running.

Robinson has flipped from Clemson to Florida, Florida to Clemson, and will now apparently (probably) make his choice between the two schools at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, according to Josh Hemholdt of Rivals.com:

Making this especially complicated for Robinson is that he is scheduled to enroll early at the college of his choice, giving him one week to decide which school he will attend and start classes. That means Robinson will be working toward a final decision this week while preparing for Saturday's Army Bowl.

"I probably will announce Saturday," Robinson said. "I'm really torn between the two, but by then it probably will be pretty definite."

Robinson is a big-time recruit who will be an important addition to whichever program he does end up with. He's ranked as the No.12 wide receiver recruit in the 2013 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. --End of Update 1/1/13.

Quarterbacks

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Targets:

Akeem Jones- 3-star duel-threat QB, 6'3'', 205 lbs (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Marshall

 

Already Committed: None

 

Analysis:

The big "None" next to already committed is nothing to worry about if you're a Clemson fan. The Clemson Tigers are set at quarterback right now, so Dabo Swinney and his staff can use a scholarship on a different position. 

That said, the Tigers have made an offer to Jones, and bringing in a quarterback to redshirt and have on the depth chart is never a bad idea.

Running Backs

Tyshon Dye Via 247Sports

Targets: None

Already Committed:

Tyshon Dye- 4-star RB, 6'0'', 208 lbs, 4.44 40 (247Sports)

Wayne Gallman- 4-star RB/ATH 6'1'', 195 lbs, 4.50 40 (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

Clemson has two very good running back commitments in Dye and Gallman. Dye in particular has a great combination of size and speed, and he could end up being a big-time player for the Clemson Tigers. He's ranked as the No. 12 running back in the 2013 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, so he's an important commitment to hold on to.

Gallman has remained committed although his high school teammates, Robert Nkemdiche and David Kamara, did not. He's the No. 20 ranked athlete according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, so landing his commitment was big for Clemson as well.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Ryan Jenkins Via 247Sports

Targets:

MarQuez North- 4-star WR, 6'4'', 212 lbs, 4.41 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 20 REC, 322 YD, 7 TD

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1pm ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Tennessee, North Carolina

Demarcus Robinson- 4-star WR, 6'1.5'', 196 lbs, 4.65 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 48 REC, 960 YD, 12 TD

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1pm ET

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Florida

Already Committed:

Ryan Jenkins- 4-star WR, 5'10'', 182 lbs, 4.59 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 24 REC, 415 YD, 6 TD

Mike Williams- 4-star WR, 6'4'', 210 lbs, 4.53 40 (247Sports)

2012 Stats: 60 REC, 1,395 YD, 10 TD (via maxpreps.com)

Jordan Leggett- 3-star TE, 6'5'', 205 lbs, 4.90 40 (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

Clemson is looking very strong on the wide receiver front. Williams in particular is a very interesting recruit because he has great size and good speed. He could end up being an important deep threat for Clemson, and the same could be said for Leggett at tight end.

If you're asking me, Robinson will end up back with Clemson when all is said and done, so overall, this will be a very strong group.

Offensive Line

Maverick Morris Via 247Sports

Targets:

Tyrone Crowder: 4-star OG, 6'1'', 330 lbs (247Sports)

Biggest Competition for Commitment: Georgia, North Carolina

Already Committed:

Maverick Morris- 3-star OT, 6'4'', 280 lbs (247Sports)

Analysis:

There's not much need at offensive line on Clemson's depth chart (Rivals), but that doesn't mean Morris isn't an important commitment. Depth on the offensive line is crucial, so bringing in a lineman recruit or two is smart. 

Clemson is listed as the favorite to land Crowder's commitment as well according to his 247Sports interest list, and he would be a marquee offensive lineman for the Clemson Tigers.

Defensive Line

Shaq Lawson Via 247Sports

Targets:

Montravius Adams: 5-star DT, 6'4'', 310 lbs (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour, Jan. 4, 5 p.m. ET

Biggest Competition For Commitment: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Auburn

Already Committed:

Shaq Lawson- 4-star SDE, 6'4'', 265 lbs (247Sports)

Scott Pagano- 4-star DT, 6'3'', 280 lbs, 5.31 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1pm ET

Dane Rogers- 3-star SDE, 6'3'', 230 lbs, 5.15 40 (247Sports)

Ebenezer Ogundeko - 3-star DE

Update: 3-Star DE Ebenezer Ogundeko commits to Clemson in the Under Armour All-American Bowl on 1/4/13.

 

Analysis;

Even without Robert Nkemdiche, this is still a strong defensive line group. Lawson and Pagano are both talented defensive line commitments and they have immense potential. Lawson is the No. 1 ranked prep school strong-side defensive end recruit (247Sports Composite Rankings) and Pagano is the No. 19 ranked defensive tackle (247Sports Composite Rankings).

Clemson also has a good chance to land Montravius Adams (unofficial top five according to his 247Sports interest list), who has the potential to be the best defensive recruit from this class. If Clemson can land Adams, this defensive line class would be great.

Linebacker

Dorian O'Daniel Via 247Sports

Targets: None

 

Already Committed:

Dorian O'Daniel- 4-star OLB, 6'1'', 205 lbs, 4.55 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5 1pm ET

Ben Boulware- 3-star OLB, 6'1'', 230 lbs, 4.70 40 (247Sports)

All-Star Game: Under Armour - 3 TKL, 1 INT

D.J. Greenlee- 3-star OLB, 6'3'', 205 lbs (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

This is an important group of linebackers for Clemson, O'Daniel and Boulware are both top-notch recruits and they both have the intangibles to be very good. O'Daniel is the No. 9 outside linebacker recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and Boulware is the No. 27 ranked outside linebacker (247Sports Composite Rankings).

These three will provide some important depth right way at the linebacker position, but in time they have the potential to be impact players on Clemson's defense.

Defensive Backs

Jayron Kearse Via 247Sports

Targets:

MacKensie Alexander—5-star CB, 5'10", 180 lbs, 4.40 40 (247Sports Composite)

All-Star Game: U.S. Army 1/5/2013 1 p.m. ET

Biggest competition for commitment: Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State

Already Committed:

Jayron Kearse- 4-star ATH/S, 6'4'', 185 lbs (247Sports)

Cordrea Tankersley- 4-star CB, 6'2'', 185 lbs (247Sports)

Jadar Johnson- 3-star S, 6'1'', 188 lbs, 4.56 40 (247Sports)

 

Analysis:

Recruiting secondary players is crucial for Clemson right now, considering that Jonathan Meeks, is a senior and both Rashard Hall and Xavier Brewer are redshirt seniors. The Clemson Tigers need to fill the depth chart behind their eventual replacements, so keeping the commitments of Kearse, Tankersley and Johnson is extremely important.

The good news is, Clemson is listed as the top team (247Sports) for Alexander, who has star potential, so this group of secondary players could end up being elite.