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Fat Guy Focus

  • cctiger91
  • Mar 26, 2015
  • 6 min read

YarboroughSimpsonBoudreaux.jpg

The 2015 class featured what many consider to be the best offensive line haul Clemson has ever assembled. Mitch Hyatt, Jake Fruhmorgen, Noah Green, & Zach Giella are all on campus now and each are vying for snaps in the Fall. The Clemson staff would love to follow that group up with one just as competitive in 2016. With Norton, Battle, Gore, & Mac Lain all graduating the staff will likely bring in 3 to 4 offensive lineman in the current cycle. The status of Jay Guillermo's football career is up in the air as well, meaning the staff may lean towards taking 4 linemen in total.

In this segment we will take a look at several of Clemson's offensive line targets, including the lone commitment Sean Pollard. With over +10 months until Signing Day 2016, a lot can change but this is where things stand as of right now:

Sean Pollard (6-5 294lbs) Commitment

Rivals: **** #7 OG

247: *** #19 OG

Since his commitment back on December 19th Pollard has been All-In. Pollard became the 3rd commit for the 2016 class and will likely become a key recruiter for the Tigers with their other OL targets. Pollard features nice measurables and has surprisingly quick feet for a big man. At Pinecrest High (NC) he has played both guard and tackle, but likely projects as a guard at the next level. In his highlight video shown above, he excels as a pulling guard to seal off the edge on running plays. He also displays superb power with his upper body as he frequent plants his counterpart to the ground with a single shove. Pollard is a quality lineman and will be part of back to back outstanding offensive line classes at Clemson.

John Simpson (6-4 288lbs)

Clemson, SC, UGA

Rivals: **** #11 OG

247: **** #10 OG

As a Palmetto State native, Simpson is a primary target for the Clemson staff. There aren't many big time OL produced inside of the South Carolina boundaries, so when one pops up the Tigers need to keep them here. Simpson was thought to be a Gamecock lean during the Fall, but a recent visit to TigerTown has surged the Tigers to the top of his list. This past weekend Simpson and Dakereon Joyner ('18 QB target) took a visit down to Athens. The pair are both extremely high on the Tigers, and they seemed to enjoy their UGA visit. I'm not sure how much of a factor UGA will be here, but Clemson will likely have to fend off South Carolina down the stretch in order to sign Simpson. FYI, Tony Elliot is Simpson's primary recruiter and he has laid some good groundwork here.

Parker Boudreaux (6-5 291lbs)

Clemson, UF, ND

Rivals: **** #22 OT

247: **** #4 OG

One of the nation's most popular prospects, Boudreaux features over 60 offers. I've heard of guys in the 30 to 40 offer range, but never +60. The Orlando native has recently completed visits to Clemson, SC, UF, Tenn, and Penn State. Plans to get up to Notre Dame are also in the works. Boudreaux is a mauler and plays with the nasty edge you like to see in the trenches. He made a stop by the Tigers bowl practices in Orlando back in December and seems to have a friendship with freshman QB Tucker Israel. The Gators and Irish will give definitely give Parker a lot to think about, but Clemson is in excellent position here. Not sure of a time frame for a commitment, but I get the impression his recruitment will likely carry over into 2016.

EJ Price (6-6 310lbs)

UGA, Michigan, FSU, Clemson, Auburn

Rivals: **** #17 OT

247: **** #4 OT

One of the toughest prospects to read so far. He has favored Auburn, Clemson, and just tweeted out this week that UGA/Michigan are his co-leaders with FSU not far behind. Price is quite the physical specimen, standing at 6-6 and tipping the scales at over 300 pounds. He has a college ready body, but like any high schooler he will need to improve his technique. Judging from his recruitment thus far he simply favors whomever shows him the most love at a particular time. He made it up for Junior Day recently and Clemson made a lasting impression. This will be a recruitment that will go all the way down to signing day even if he happens to make a commitment beforehand.

Jack DeFoor (6-5 268lbs)

Clemson, Ole Miss, UGA

Rivals: *** NR

247: *** #63 OT

This could be another example of this staff's innate ability to get in on prospects before anyone else does. We've seen this story over and over again as Clemson was the first Power 5 school to offer DeFoor back on January 31st. Since the Tigers extended their offer other powers such as Ole Miss, VT, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, & Miami have all joined the party. There is not a ton of information out on the late bloomer, but the big time offers tell you all you need to know about his upside. Clemson and Ole Miss are thought to sit atop his list, but keep an eye on the in-state Bulldogs. If they extend an offer they will be squarely in the mix to ink DeFoor's signature on Signing Day 2016.

Clark Yarborough (6-6 268lbs)

UVA, Duke, Michigan, Clemson, Penn State

Rivals: **** #16 OT

247: **** #12 OT

Yarborough made it into town in early March and got to spend some quality time with Pollard, Boudreaux, and Simpson. As expected, this entire group had the "Orange Carpet" treatment. Yarborough is receiving heavy interest from Big Ten powers Michigan & Penn State. As of this moment he claims no favorites, but the hometown Virginia Cavaliers and Cutcliffe's Blue Devils accompany the previously listed schools at the top of his list. Yaborough has the Big 10, NFL-prospect feel to him. Similar to what we've seen up at Boston College as of late. This will be a prospect to definitely keep an eye on if you're a Clemson fan.

Luke Elder (6-5 285lbs)

Ole Miss, Tenn, Clemson, UGA, SC

Rivals: *** #49 OT

247: *** #39 OT

Well traveled and wide open seem to be the story for Elder. In 2015 alone he has made unofficial visits to Clemson, SC, Tenn, UNC, GT, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama, & Miss State. The Tigers did extend an offer at the beginning of February during Junior Day. At 6-5 285lbs as a junior, he exhibits the frame to contribute right away at his destination of choice. Way too many options and too early in the process to be able to judge which way Elder is leaning. Thanks to Robbie Caldwell Clemson is in pretty good position here. Once he narrows his list, we should get a better feel on how engaged Clemson is here.

Jay Jay McCargo (6-4 270lbs)

UNC, Duke, Clemson, Tenn

Rivals: *** #30 OT

247: *** #41 OT

McCargo made it in for a visit to Clemson back in February and enjoyed his time in town. The fact of the matter here is that McCargo likely sees a better opportunity for early playing time at schools like UNC and Duke, who currently lead for his services. Clemson has some work to do here and they will turn up the intensity if they happen to miss on a target higher up on their board.

Tyler Pritchett (6-2 288lbs)

Mizzou, SC, UNC, Indiana

Rivals: *** NR

247: *** #39 OG

The Alabama native had to cancel a visit to Clemson for Junior Day in early March. Clemson is not on his radar as of this moment, and I'm not sure how high he is on Clemson's radar either. If the hometown Auburn Tigers offer, or even the Crimson Tide, then he will stay inside the Alabama boundaries. If Pritchett does indeed make it up to Clemson for a visit things could change, but as they stand now he is not going to be signing with Clemson.

Will Fries (6-6 265lbs)

Penn St, Rutgers, Duke, Clemson, Northwestern

Rivals: **** #10 OG

247: *** #31 OT

Clemson extended an offer in February to the New Jersey mauler. He is expected to make a visit sometime in the coming months, and until that visit takes place he is a long shot for Clemson. Fries could be a fallback option, not because of talent, but because of proximity and familiarity with several other targets on the board. We will learn more about his recruitment and where Clemson stands with him once he makes it on campus.

**Heights and weights are from Rivals.com**


 
 
 

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