Ranking Clemson’s top recruiters

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, August 11, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Clemson Tigers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

It’s no big secret that Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden’s recruiting classes have been nationally ranked the last four years. It’s clear Bowden has assembled a group of talented assistants, so let’s go down the list and rank the Tigers' coaches on the recruiting trail over the past four classes.

1. Dabo Swinney (receivers, assistant head coach): Over the past four years Swinney has been in Tigertown, he has signed 20 players. It all started when Swinney nabbed five-star running back C.J. Spiller, the nation’s top-ranked all-purpose back, in 2006 out of Lake Butler, Fla., and beat out traditional football behemoths Florida, Florida State, Miami, USC and his alma mater, Alabama. That same year, he signed DeAndre McDaniel, America's No. 6 safety. The next year, he grabbed Scotty Cooper -- the nation’s fifth-best outside linebacker -- and this past signing day brought Jamie Harper (the nation’s top fullback) and Kyle Parker (No. 10 pro-style QB). And there appears to be no slowing down for Swinney, who received a verbal commitment from Malliciah Goodman (2009’s No. 3 strongside defensive end). Given that, it must be rather comforting to fans that their top recruiter is trying to get Tana Patrick, '09’s fifth-rated inside linebacker.

2. David Blackwell (inside linebackers): Blackwell, who's also been at Clemson four years, has signed 15 players -- including Chris Chancellor, Jamie Cumbie, Richard Jackson, Willy Korn, Andre Ellington and Brandon Ford.

3. Billy Napier (tight ends, recruiting coordinator): Napier has only been with the Tigers for two years, but he's signed seven players. Napier was also responsible in 2007 for landing three big-time prospects -- Marcus Gilchrist (No. 6 cornerback), Kourtnei Brown (No. 12 weakside defensive end) and Landon Walker (No. 14 offensive tackle) -- and Spencer Adams (No. 5 safety) and Brandon Thompson (No. 9 defensive tackle) in 2008. For '09, he’s the force behind the commitments of Craig Loston (nation’s top safety), DeVonte Holloman (No. 6 safety) and Eric Fields (No. 11 outside linebacker).

4. Brad Scott (offensive line, associate head coach): Four of the eight-year Clemson coach's 10 total signees from 2005 on have been nationally ranked offensive linemen. Since that year, he’s added Thomas Austin (now the starting center), Mason Cloy (No. 10 center in 2007), Kenneth Page (2008’s No. 9 offensive guard) and guard Dalton Freeman ('08’s No. 13 guard). That’s some star power the Tigers haven’t seen on the line in years. Aside from the big uglies, Scott also signed four-star receiver Marquan Jones (2008) and the nation’s No. 20 defensive tackle, four-star man Jarvis Jenkins. Moreover, Scott has a verbal commitment from J.K. Jay, the nation’s 11th-best offensive tackle for 2009.

5. Ron West (outside linebackers): West hasn’t been terribly productive as numbers go (seven signees in four years), but he's made up for that with quality; in fact, he penned 2006’s top weakside defensive end, five-star prospect Ricky Sapp, and 2008’s best strongside DE in DaQuan Bowers.

6. Vic Koenning (defensive coordinator): Koenning has been credited with four sole signees, but his crown jewel is helping Napier land Brandon Thompson this past signing day. On his radar appears to be five-star cornerback Darius Winston and stud DE Sam Montgomery.

7. Chris Rumph (defensive line): Like Napier, Rumph has only been at Clemson two years; he’s only had three signees, two of whom are top players. Dwayne Allen (No. 12 tight end for 2008) came aboard because of Rumph, as did defensive end Jarrett Crittendon. However, academics got in the way of Crittendon, who was denied admittance to the university. This past Friday, Rumph received an oral commitment from inside linebacker Corico Hawkins, a Milledgeville, Ga., native.

8 and 9. Rob Spence (offensive coordinator) and Andre Powell (running backs, special teams): Neither has signed anyone, but Powell -- by getting a verbal from 2009's 14th-ranked all-purpose back, Roderick McDowell, in his second year at Clemson -- seems promising.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (2)

About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report