By Hale McGranahan.

Before Saturday’s demolition of South Carolina State, four-star linebacker Tre Lamar had been to Clemson twice this year.

Visit No. 1 was for a Junior Day. The second was at the end of the summer, to watch a preseason practice.

“I had a great time up there,” Lamar told TheClemsonInsider that evening.

Plenty stood out during his first game in Death Valley.

“I got to talk to the coaches before the game. I got to see the environment during game time, before it,” he said. “I got to see them run down the hill, which was really cool for me, too.”

Saturday’s visit marked Lamar’s first game day experience in Death Valley.

“They played really well today. The score was 73-7 or something like that. They played a real good game today,” Lamar said.

What was the message from the Clemson coaches?

“They talked to me about how they play at home, how the crowd responds to the team. Just the overall feel of what game day would be like if I was to go there.”

Lamar was in Athens last weekend for the season opener. While nothing is set in stone, he hopes to see Clemson play again this year. Trips to Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Miami could also be in the works.

“I like the coaches a lot and just the overall comfortable feeling when I’m at Clemson,” Lamar said. “That’s probably what makes me want to come back.”

The Tigers, along with a few others from the SEC, remain in serious consideration.

“I have a couple that I’m liking a lot right now, but I don’t have a top one yet, but I’m liking Clemson, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State (and) Tennessee right now, if I had to put out a top five,” he said.