Fla. DB backs off pledge to Tigers

  • Phil Kornblut
  • Posted: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Sunday, March 18, 2012 11:20 p.m.
  • Text size: A A A

One of Clemson's early commitments for the 2011 football recruiting class backed off that pledge Saturday. Defensive back Cortez Davis (6-5, 180) of Daytona Beach, Fla., attended Florida State's junior day and left there open once again with his recruiting. One Web report actually said Davis had committed to the Seminoles but he later denied that. In fact, Davis told CUTigers.com Clemson is still his favorite though he's no longer committed. He said he will wait until the end to make his decision.

Manning DL Phillip Dukes (6-3, 280) is a long way from making a decision, but at least he knows when he wants to announce his choice. "I'll make my announcement at the Under Armour game," he said referring to the All American game played in Orlando, Fla., in early January. He said his top four, in no order, is Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama and North Carolina. Dukes said all the schools are recruiting him the same and he's wide open with his decision. He also has offers from NC State, Maryland, Florida, Stanford and Duke.

OL Justin Floyd (6-6, 287) of Cartersville, Ga., was at Tennessee Saturday for the Vols' junior day. He's also been to junior days at Alabama and Georgia. He made an unofficial visit to USC earlier this month.

He also visited the Gamecocks twice during last season. Clemson also is involved and Floyd will take an unofficial visit there this month. Vanderbilt and Duke are also very interested, and he will attend a junior day at Vandy. He's also getting interest from Georgia Tech and has visited there several times. Floyd played in the Wing-T last season and schools want to check on his pass blocking skills this spring before moving forward with an offer.

ATH Jerrell Adams (6-5, 200) of Scott's Branch is a two sport standout drawing recruiting interest in football and basketball. He plays QB in the run-oriented offense of coach Leonard Johnson but likely will be a tight end or defensive end in college. Adams attended Clemson's junior day. Clemson recruiter Chris Rumph has been on him since last spring, according to Johnson. He also went to Clemson for the TCU game. He's not yet visited USC, but the Gamecocks are also very interested. He's also getting interest from Illinois, N.C. State and Nebraska. Clemson is his early favorite.

TE Drew Owens (6-5, 230) of Charlotte was at USC's junior day last month and says the visit went very well. Owens only other junior day was to N.C. State. He has offers from USC, Clemson, N.C. State, UNC, Virginia Tech, Maryland, East Carolina, Vandy, Virginia and Duke.

Wade Hampton WR Hakeem Flowers (6-3, 189) was on the road over the weekend. He stopped by Oklahoma on Friday on his way to Austin for a junior day at Texas. While in Norman he was offered by the Sooners. Flowers visited Alabama rercently and the Crimson Tide has been making a hard push for Flowers, talking with him several times last week. He will visit Notre Dame this summer and will also make a return trip to Texas and will visit Texas Tech. He has over 30 offers at this point but USC and Clemson are not among his offers.

The offer list for QB Shamier Jeffery (6-2, 190) of Calhoun County grew by three more last week. West Virginia, East Carolina and Nebraska extended offers to Jeffery who now has 11 official offers. The others are from USC, Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Kansas State and Illinois. Jeffery did not visit anywhere over the weekend. He will visit Clemson this weekend.

Marlboro County LB Lateek Townsend (6-3, 208) was offered last week by Nebraska and Michigan State. Townsend has many other offers including Clemson, USC, Illinois, N.C. State, Maryland, East Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Miami, LSU, Wake Forest, Duke, UNC and Tennessee. Townsend maintains that he has not committed to any school at this point.

DB Ra'Chard Pippens (6-1, 181) of McDonough, Ga.,was at USC's junior day and he was at Georgia for a junior day this past Saturday. This month he will visit Florida State. USC is his only offer so far. He's also drawing interest from Clemson, Georgia, FSU, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, Alabama and Northwestern. Pippens said he has a top five, in no order, of USC, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Florida State.

Blythewood LB (6-4, 210) is the son of the former USC and NFL standout and is starting to attract attention from major colleges. His interest is coming from USC, Clemson, N.C. State, Georgia, Florida State, Virginia, Vandy, Wake Forest, Maryland and Florida. Wake and N.C. State have indicated possible offers this spring. Maryland is also showing good interest. He also plays tight end.

South Pointe DE Jadeveon Clowney (6-6, 240) attended USC's junior day last month and that will be his last football recruiting related visit for some time. Downey said he's not picked up any new offers recently to add to the 25 he's sitting on. He said USC and Clemson are, of course, on his list. Outside of the state, he said he likes Alabama, LSU and UCLA right now. As for visiting Clemson, Clowney said that probably wouldn't happen until his senior season. He plans to make all five of his official visits before deciding. He said there is no favorite with him right now.

RB Brandon Wilds (6-1, 220) of Blythewood attended USC's recent junior day and went home with an offer from the Gamecocks. Wilds said he's been talking a lot with USC running backs coach Jay Graham. He's also getting interest from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Florida, Nebraska and Alabama. But UNC is the school he really likes and he will go there for a junior day March 27. He's not going there on an invitation, but he's hoping the Tar Heel coaches take notice of him.

DB Zeph Grimes (5-11, 200) of Bamberg-Ehrhardt went to Tennessee on Saturday for a junior day. And he will visit Illinois on April 2 for a junior day and a spring practice. Grimes now has offers from Ole Miss, Arkansas, Michigan State, Illinois, Colorado and Tulsa. He's also getting interest from USC, Clemson, N.C State and Virginia Tech.

DE/LB Ryan Shazier (6-2, 201) of Plantation, FL has nine offers thus far, including one from USC. The others are from Florida, FSU, Tennessee, Wisconsin, South Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma. He is also hearing from Clemson, Georgia, LSU, UCLA, and Miami among others. Shazier says he has no favorites and everyone is even with him right now.

RB Shon Carson (5-9, 195) of Lake City went to Clemson's recent junior day. Carson plans to make a stop at USC for a spring practice. Carson has offers from USC, Clemson, UNC, East Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee, Alabama and Southern Cal. Carson is not indicating a favorite.

OL Ryan Norton (6-4, 274) of Mauldin was at Clemson for the Tigers' junior day last month. He was recently offered by Illinois and also has offers from Georgia Tech and East Carolina. Norton also has been in touch with USC line coach Shawn Elliott and could receive an offer from the Gamecocks in the near future. Norton said Clemson, Georgia Tech and Illinois are his top three in no particular order.

DB Ra'Chard Pippens (6-0, 174) of McDonough, Ga., attended USC's junior day and was offered by the Gamecocks. USC is the first offer for Pippens, who had 53 tackles last season. Clemson also has been showing interest along with Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Northwestern and East Carolina.

DB Pat Martin (6-0, 200) of J.L. Mann has offers from Duke, Maryland, Minnesota, Arkansas, and UCLA. He is also hearing from Clemson, USC, Alabama, Florida, FSU, Oregon, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. Martin did not make either Clemson or USC's junior days but likes both schools. Martin has already visited Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Duke.

QB Sam Spence (6-3, 200) of Charlotte was in for USC's junior day last month and came away impressed with everything he saw. Spence was at Southern Miss on Sunday and he plans to visit Virginia on March 6. He has not received his first offer but is garnering attention from most ACC and SEC schools.

Basketball News:

USC is recruiting 6-8 Jesse Perry of Logan JC, IL according to his coach Mark Imhoff. Perry is a native of St. Louis who is averaging over 17 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. "He's a perimeter guy but he plays the four for us," Imhoff said. "He puts it on the floor well. He's not a down in the blocks player. He shoots the three." Perry is getting a lot of interest from Arizona along with USC, Southern Illinois, Iowa State, Missouri and others. He has not taken any official visits at this point and will take them after his season. He has not decided on which schools he will visit. USC has been in to scout him.