By Hale McGranahan.

While on spring break from Opelika High School, Jake Bentley spent some time in the Palmetto State last week.

A four-star prospect, according to Rivals, Scout and 247, Bentley is listed as the top 2017 quarterback in the state of Alabama.

Clemson hosted him for a visit on Monday.

“It was good to watch practice and meet all the new coaches and all the new faces,” Bentley told TheClemsonInsider over the weekend.

“The intensity of practice was really high. That was cool to see how intense all of the coaches were and how adamant they were about teaching their position.”

Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, who recruits Spartanburg County for Clemson, has a long-standing relationship with Bobby Bentley, the former Byrnes coach who is now on staff at Auburn under Gus Malzahn.

“(Scott) said that he wants me to go to camp this summer and let coach (Brandon) Streeter watch me throw in person,” Bentley said. “Since they haven’t offered any 2017 quarterbacks yet, he’s going to let coach Streeter be the one to call the shot on the first one.”

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore watched practice at South Carolina on Thursday.

“It was the same as Clemson,” Bentley said. “It was cool to get out there, watch practice and come back home. I’ve grown up watching both of them, both schools, just to come back and be able to visit and watch practice.”

Bentley has no further visits scheduled until the summer camp circuit.

“As of right now, I’m probably going to go to Clemson, South Carolina and Auburn. Then, I might try to get out to UCLA as well,” he said.

Auburn, Miami, Appalachian State, Southern Miss and Temple have offered.

As the back-up to Murray State signee Matthew Christian, the all-time leading passer in Opelika history, Bentley completed 21 of 34 passes for 326 yards with three touchdowns in 2014.