Time for the latest edition of Ask TCI. Each week we will take questions on the message board The Rock. We will take questions up until midnight on Tuesday.
Each weekend we will run our Ask TCI feature with answers to some of the questions asked by the Clemson Insiders. Make sure to get your questions in next week.
Question – Hypothetical , if Clemson went to the SEC , how long do you think it would take before they could compete annually with the upper tier of that conference ? And how much better do you think their recruiting could be in that conference ?
TCI – As you know there is no invitation for Clemson to go to the SEC. Clemson is already recruiting at a very high level with two straight top ten recruiting classes. If things fall well down the stretch Clemson will have another outstanding class.
A move to the SEC right now would certainly benefit Clemson financially. That could lead to even better facilities and other improvements that might attract more recruits. There are times where you hear a recruit discuss wanting to play in the SEC so that might help with some.
As for how long would it take to compete with the upper tier SEC schools. Well my answer to that is simple. Clemson just defeated a top tier SEC school in the Chick-Fil-A bowl.
Question – Have you had a chance to talk to Coach Reed? First impressions?
TCI – We have not had any media availability yet with coach Reed. He was not available the day of Dabo’s postseason press conference as we had hoped because he was on the road recruiting.
Question – I would like to know who you think will be starting corners next year and who will start next to Blanks at safety. My guess is Breeland at one corner, but beyond that I don’t know. Assuming Jenkins is healthy, does he has a legit shot to start? Is Kearse good enough to start as a Freshman? Let’s assume we only add Baker to this year’s class.
TCI – Heading into the spring Robert Smith will be the other starter at safety. Kearse is definitely talented enough to start at safety, however there has been discussions of starting him the same way they did with Blanks this year, initially at Nickel.
There will certainly be some of the true freshmen battling for playing time next fall in the secondary. Breeland will be one of the starters at corner going into the spring and fall. Peter, Robinson and Jenkins will battle for a starting role as well. If MacKensie Alexander was to sign with Clemson you would see him as a starter at corner in 2013.
Question – Given the depth at DT and the improvement of the Dline in general, would Mt Adams red-shirt?
TCI – This is the easiest question of the week. Adams will absolutely not red-shirt. He is too talented for that even though Clemson has a lot of depth at defensive tackle. Adams is more talented than any defensive lineman currently on campus at Clemson.
Question – Does Jeff Scott head alot of the recruitment of the bigger recruits we go after? If so why would the lose of Coach Morris keep recruits from backing out. Wouldn’t the relationship already be there.
TCI – Jeff is heavily involved with all of the recruits as recruiting coordinator. He is also one of the best recruiters in the Southeast so they certainly use him on some of the top prospects.
The loss of Morris has to do with this being “Morris’ offense”. Clemson and Dabo are doing their best to say this is Clemson’s offense, not the Morris offense. It is obvious though that the offense has been much different and much improved since the arrival of coach Morris.
The stay is doing what they can to make sure recruits know that there is a transition plan in place to keep the same offense if Morris does leave in the future. Unfortunately some recruits will still be very concerned if Morris leaves.
Question – I am intrigued as to how it is that Clemson was the first to offer both Adams and D. Watson. Is it that we have an especially insightful evaluator, or do we have special connections with their HS coaches (who might have given us a heads up)? Or did these players send in film to Clemson earlier and more “aggressively” than to other schools? Was it a camp thing? With their both being Georgia prep players, I am really amazed…given how incredibly talented they are…that we were the first to offer. It does not surprise me as much when we are in on a SC player earlier, but Georgia is surprising. I would think that sometimes just being the “first to offer” can be at least a small edge. Thanks.
Question – Were the mystery recruits that didn’t show up two thirds of the Grayson trio?
TCI – No.
Question – Is Baker a true shutdown corner (like Alexander)? Why haven’t we offered Alexander’s brother in an effort to land MacKensie?
TCI – Baker is a very talented athlete. He is not yet a shutdown corner like Alexander, but has the tools to be a very good defensive back with the right coaching.
The staff so far has decided they don’t believe his brother is worth an offer. Believe it or not, usually when the staff offers a teammate it is because they believe he can be a talented player at Clemson even if the other more highly regarded prospect does not come to Clemson. A few great examples come to mind like Adam Humphries and Chad Diehl.
Trust the Clemson staff. They are some of the best in the business when it comes to recruiting.
Question – Robert- I have taken NSD off the last couple of years to come hang out with you guys in Clemson. So firstly is there anything going on for NSD? Secondly, with so many commits waiting till NSD to decide, will it be a good day to take off and be in Clemson.
TCI – Ever since we started TCI we have always had a TCI Celebration on National Signing Day somewhere in Clemson. This year with all of the commitments planned for that day we have decided not to have that event.
This Signing Day will be one for the record books it looks like so we have decided it is more important to our coverage on the site to have our staff 100 percent focused on bringing the best Signing Day coverage possible to our members.
We will have another TCI Celebration the first Saturday of spring practice so make your plans for that event.