4-Star 2016 CB Chad Clay Earns LSU Offer: Family Ties Helping Tigers' Case?

Rising 4-star junior corner Chad Clay is well-versed when it comes to recognizing excellence in the secondary, especially considering his father Willie was a standout defensive back in college at Georgia Tech and in the NFL. 

That’s part of the reason he was thrilled when LSU coach Les Miles and defensive backs coach Corey Raymond—who was a teammate of Willie in the NFL—extended an offer to the Suwanee, Georgia, standout last week.

“It’s a real big offer,” Chad said. “I feel like it’s an honor. If you get offered by LSU, it means that you are one of the best defensive backs because that is what they are known for. It was a really big honor. I was very excited about it.”

Willie—who, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, recorded 27 interceptions over an eight-year career in the NFL with three different teams—pointed out that the offer didn’t come simply because of his relationship with Raymond. Instead, Chad earned the offer after Raymond dug into his body of work to date on the prep level.

“Obviously, he knew I had a son that was playing,” Willie said. “But he hasn’t seen Chad in four or five years. We came down (to LSU) last weekend and he had done his due diligence and research. So when we got down there, we weren’t there but for five minutes before he (Corey) came in and they offered him a scholarship. It was a ‘if he wants to come today, he can come today,’ type of offer.”

For Willie, having that comfort level with Raymond is a big plus for the Tigers in their quest to earn his son’s pledge.

“He’s been coaching for a while and we do talk periodically,” Willie said of LSU’s defensive backs coach. “I think there’s a level of trust there that is big with him since I’ve known him for so long. As you go through the process with recruiting, I think anybody has to feel comfortable with whoever your kid is going to sign with.”

Credit: Chad Clay

Chad’s interest in playing in Baton Rouge became magnified after his visit there last weekend to catch the LSU vs. Mississippi State game. It’s safe to say that his visit left an impression on the 6’1”, 178-pounder.

“It was probably the loudest place I’ve ever been,” Chad remarked. “It was awesome. I liked it. The fans, I just liked everything. It’s one of the greatest places I’ve ever been to.”

The Tigers' loss didn’t have any effect on Chad. In fact, he paid close attention to the secondary—which prefers to put their corners on an island and let them play tight man-to-man coverage.

“I feel like I could see myself fitting in well down there,” Chad said. “From watching them play, they play a lot of press coverage and bump and run coverage, and I feel like that’s something I’m good at and why I would fit good into their system.”

"

Sitting at the LSU game with THE one and only Karl Malone pic.twitter.com/kUVnc0IWNX

— ChadClay (@TheReal_Chad4) September 21, 2014"

If the Tigers are able to pull him out of the metro Atlanta area, they will have to beat out powers such as Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Auburn, Texas A&M and Nebraska—all of whom have offered Chad and make up his top group of schools.

Chad’s ascension to becoming one of the top corners in the 2016 class began with a grueling offseason workout plan with a number of other top recruits in the metro Atlanta area who trained together at Elite Talent Football Academy.

He is also one of several talented underclassmen at Peachtree Ridge High School sharing a secondary with 2017 4-star corner DeAngelo Gibbs and 2016 3-star corner and Louisville commit Baylen Buchanan. After his training sessions in the summer and lining up in a loaded secondary every day in practice, Clay has developed a strong work ethic that has paid off with his laundry list of college offers.

Credit: Chad Clay

“Coach (Derrick) Tatum, he’s a great trainer and a great coach,” Clay said. “He teaches a lot and he prides himself on working hard and making us work hard. Playing at Peachtree Ridge in the secondary I’m playing in with players like Baylen Buchanan and DeAngelo Gibbs, it helps because we’re all good players and we just go hard in trying to make each other better every day. Because when you try to outwork the person next to you, it just makes you better in the end.”

While he’s only in the infant stages of his recruiting process, Chad stated tentative plans to return to LSU for its home game against Alabama on Nov. 8, plus he's planning a visit to Georgia for its game against Auburn on Nov. 15. He also mentioned Florida State and Florida as teams that he is hoping to hear more from.

Even though recruiting is heating up for Chad, Willie is encouraging his son to focus on the present in school and on the field.

“These college trips are fine and OK, but right now all that really matters is what happens in school and on Friday nights for him,” Willie said. “It’s a long journey between now and college because he’s only a junior. My goal for him is that when he leaves high school, that he is ready to compete on that next level”

While he admits that he’s sometimes a tough critic because of his experience playing the same position, Willie tries to balance that out by encouraging Chad to enjoy the recruiting process.

“My biggest thing with him is just trying to teach him those small things, and also helping him to enjoy the process,” Willie said. “I think the biggest thing is, it’s a good time right now but it’s a tough time. As a dad and a parent, you just want them to enjoy the process more than anything. You only get a chance to go through it once.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani