By Hale McGranahan.

Pinecrest High School (Southern Pines, N.C) rising junior offensive lineman Sean Pollard picked up his Clemson offer after putting in a strong effort at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp.

But word of the offer wasn’t passed along until several weeks later.

“(Swinney) wanted to offer me, but he couldn’t tell me because he was on vacation, so we had to wait for the right timeframe to get on the phone,” Pollard said, during a recent interview with TheClemsonInsider.com. “We talked for about 15 minutes and he offered me.”

Pollard, who checks in at 6-foot-5, 292 pounds, is a four-star prospect according to Rivals and ranked as the No. 4 overall offensive guard in the class of 2016. Scout lists him as a three-star.

All of the major programs from his home state have offered. So have Miami, Penn State and South Carolina.

“Obviously, it means something, because they’re a top 25 program,” he said, when asked about the Clemson offer. “From a pure football aspect, they’re good every year.”

The camp visit marked his first trip to Tigertown.

“It was awesome. It was a joy to get coached hard and to just work on the technique aspect, to try to make you a better overall football player…I did pretty well, I showed out,” he said.

Pollard would like to see Clemson again.

“I’ll be back soon to tour the facility, watch practice. I just have to coordinate that with my schedule and Clemson, coach (Robbie) Caldwell’s schedule,” he said.

In addition to the Clemson trip, Pollard also visited UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Auburn and Alabama this summer.

“Everybody has a favorite, but my dad and I keep it to ourselves,” Pollard said. “I still have a lot of time left in high school and I’m not committing anytime soon.

“Nine offers is a respectable offer, but I only have nine offers now, so I just want to wait until next year. I want to do my research…before I put out my favorites list.”