Clemson's football recruiting picking up momentum
By Larry Williams
The Post and Courier
DeVonte Holloman
CLEMSON — Dancing in Billy Napier's head are visions of conference titles, BCS appearances and national contention.
Napier, the recruiting coordinator for Clemson's football team, believes the Tigers will get there sooner rather than later. And it looks like more and more high-profile recruits are sharing that vision.
Fresh off signing the most decorated class in coach Tommy Bowden's nine seasons at Clemson, the coaching staff is picking up momentum for another celebrated haul with the recent commitments of defensive backs Craig Loston and DeVonte Holloman — the two best safeties in the nation, according to Scout.com.
"Anybody and everybody who's taken a look at the Clemson program from the outside in can see we're on the verge of doing something special," Napier said. "And I think recruits are seeing that. They see that we're really sitting on the edge, and the time is now for us and we can win a championship. They want a chance to be a part of that."
Clemson has fallen just short of advancing to the ACC championship game the past three years, including last year's excruciating home loss to Boston College in the Tigers' conference finale.
This is a program that has gone 16 seasons since its last conference title, and most of today's high school seniors don't have a clue about all of the great things Danny Ford did at Clemson in the 1980s.
Yet perceived underachievement on the football field in recent years hasn't spilled onto the recruiting trail — at least, not lately. The Tigers have elevated their recruiting in recent years and are already a popular pick to be a Top 10 team in 2008.
February's recruiting class, highlighted by defensive end Da'Quan Bowers and running back Jamie Harper, was rated No. 8 nationally by SuperPrep, No. 11 by Scout.com and No. 12 by Rivals.com.
A lot can happen between now and signing day in February, when commitments become official, but Clemson fans have to like the way the 2009 class is shaping up.
Five of the Tigers' eight non-binding pledges are from players outside the Palmetto State. That includes Loston and Holloman, both of whom are regarded as five-star prospects by Scout.com.
Loston, preparing for his senior year at Eisenhower High School in Aldine, Texas, has offers from almost everyone.
"He's fantastic," said Allen Wallace, publisher of SuperPrep and Scout's national recruiting editor. "He's a big, powerful strong safety who's very physical and a versatile kid with good instincts. He makes big plays. Obviously he's very impressive to us if he's ranked among the top 25 players in the United States."
Loston made a big splash with his commitment on April 30. But Holloman, who plays at Independence High in Charlotte, added to the buzz by announcing his commitment earlier this week. Scout rates him the nation's second-best safety behind Loston. Rivals also considers Loston the top safety in the 2009 class.
Another commitment, linebacker Eric Fields of Warner Robins, Ga., is ranked as the country's No. 7 middle linebacker, according to Wallace.
"Anytime you're bringing in four- and five-star guys, which Clemson is doing, it shows you they're going after elite athletes and winning battles," Wallace said. "It's especially impressive because they're going out of state to do so."
The Tigers are continuing to nab recruits out of North Carolina, and that's becoming harder to do with Tar Heels coach Butch Davis in Chapel Hill.
Holloman would be the latest in a series of acclaimed defensive backs from North Carolina to bolt the state for Clemson. In February, the Tigers nabbed Spencer Adams of Charlotte. The year before it was Marcus Gilchrist of High Point. And in 2006, it was Crezdon Butler of Asheville.
When Napier left South Carolina State to become Clemson's tight ends coach after the 2005 season, he asked Bowden if he could recruit North Carolina. Bowden granted the request.
"We just feel the blueprint for Clemson to be successful as a football team is to acquire the best players in the state of North Carolina," said the 28-year-old Napier, who became the Tigers' recruiting coordinator following the 2006 season. "It's just a matter of getting them down here and letting them see the difference. There's a distinct difference.
"We just let Clemson sell itself."
The recruits have been buying lately.
Said Wallace: "This shows Clemson is going after the better kids, and getting better at it."
Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com.
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ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
Laissez les bons temp roulez!!!! (Let the Good Times Roll!!)
May 16, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
Before too much celebration begins about players from this years and next years signing classes, lets all remember these kids haven't played snap 1 in a real game yet.....and next years signees won't be on campus until at least January of '09.
May 16, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
Well said Ashley but It's still fun to talk about football!!
May 16, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
Come on now, leave a few crumbs for the shamecocks. You guys cant have all the 4 and 5 star players. LOL. How many lamecocks arrested this week?
May 16, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nappyd (anonymous) says...
Agreed about the Gamecocks, I don't get what it is about Columbia that seems to bring out the worst in people, or maybe the players who want to go there really are just that bad.
With Clemson, along with choking in "big" games, they never have seemed to be able to evaluate offensive linemen consistently in their recruiting, or at last land the better players/prospects.
May 16, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Too bad they don't give out championship trophies for recruiting. The stink will hit the fan this year at the Farm after another let down year in the all cupcake conference. Wake is just too powerful for the Tigs. LOL
May 16, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
What's South Carolina's overall record in their football history? (under 500!) Wake has just as many conference titles as the shamecocks! LOL.
May 16, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sptiger (anonymous) says...
ah yes Rebel_Smell, i wondered how long it would be before you showed up....would you like us tiger fans to bring to light some of the more recent successes (or lack there of) that carolina football has had? how about in the entire existence of the storied football program that is the coaches graveyard? speaking of choking, what does #6 to 6-6 bring to mind???
carolina football always has been and will always be the red headed stepchild that clemson beats on.
go ahead and resort to name calling and illogical arguments to support your cause, but deep down you cannot mask the jealousy you have for the best university in the state! its a smelly cologne my sad little friend.
May 16, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tiggerlady (anonymous) says...
Go Tigers!
May 16, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston_grown (anonymous) says...
hopefully we can continue this recruiting success into next year, and have the on field results to back it up.
go tigers!
May 16, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Coaching stability is an important factor these days.
May 16, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
Where did all the shamecock fans go?
May 16, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chasgirlie (anonymous) says...
Maybe we won't be BCS Champs this year (but we probably will) We WILL STILL BEAT THE SHAMECOCKS!!!
May 16, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
prosperous_hb (anonymous) says...
All these signees still won't make a difference...the Tigers will choke and will be singing the same tune next year.
GO GAMECOCKS!!!
May 16, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
To fjms, the shamecocks are scared as heck right now. They see Clemson being built into a powerhouse ... again. Soon the Tigers will be playing for the big one. Brick by brick Tommy is building a powerful team and the shamecocks know they are being left behind AGAIN! Yep, 6-6 and 3-5 again for sc. 17-24, sc record against DUKE in FOOTBALL!!
May 16, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fjms (anonymous) says...
That's right bigriver1!
May 16, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
girlygirl (anonymous) says...
"The gamecocks have so much trouble because their player's don't realize their not at the other USC where everyone gets free passes and payments."
As for Clemson, let's see them actually do something other than choke first.
DUDE ..... it's spelled "they're". Geez another gamecock alum showing THEIR talents !!
May 16, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MSC (anonymous) says...
Any trouble makers in clemson are swept under the big orange rug. All these prized recruiting classes equal ZERO ACC Championships. Steve Spurrier has more ACC championships in one year than TB in nine at clemson.
May 16, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
MSC, how many championships has does sc have in 108 years of playing football?? 1 (ONE). Pitiful. That is why the whole nation laughs at sc, never EVER done anything but yet you all talk junk. Win something, anything then talk. How many football teams have a losing record against DUKE? LOL. One more thing, when did Steve Spurrier become sc? I thought he was the coach. He is just the latest washed up, has been legend to sc.
May 17, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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