By Hale McGranahan.
For the last several years, Clemson has scheduled three Junior Day events on the spring recruiting calendar. Saturday will be he first Junior Day of the year in Tigertown and there are plenty of highly-recruited prospects scheduled to be on campus.
All three of Clemson’s three 2016 commitments, J.C. Chalk, Zerrick Cooper and Sean Pollard will be on campus for the event. TCI has also confirmed the following prospects as guests.
WR T.J. Chase – Bradenton, Florida – IMG Academy
The four-star prospect will return to Clemson after visiting in November for the South Carolina game. In addition to Clemson, Chase is also taking a very close look at Florida State. Instate schools like Miami and Florida could get closer looks. So could Alabama, which came through with an offer late last week.
DT Antwuan Jackson – Ellenwood, Georgia – Cedar Grove
Jackson tweeted last week that he was looking forward to the Clemson visit. It would appear the Tigers have some ground to make up against SEC schools like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina. Jackson’s brother, Bryson Allen-Williams, is a sophomore at South Carolina. Jackson is rated by 247 as a four-star and ranked as the No. 7 defensive tackle in the class of 2016.
LB Tre Lamar – Roswell, Georgia
Clemson hosted Lamar for three visits last season. He made the trip up to watch a preseason camp practice and returned two more times for the South Carolina State and South Carolina games. In his last interview with TCI, Lamar said Clemson, Alabama, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Tennessee made up his top-five (no order).
DT David Marshall – Thomaston, Georgia – Upson-Lee
A three-star, Marshall has focused on SEC schools so far during his recruitment, taking fall visits to Alabama and Auburn. Those Tigers are thought of as the team to beat. Saturday will be his first to Clemson.
WR Diondre Overton – Greensboro, North Carolina – Page
Clemson made its feelings towards Overton known on Martin Luther King Day when co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott were joined by Robbie Caldwell to watch Overton’s basketball game. Saturday will be the first visit to Clemson for the 6-foot-5 prospect.
WR Cornell Powell – Greenville, North Carolina – Rose
Powell made his first visit to Clemson last fall for the N.C. State game and the Tigers continue to be held in high regard. Clemson, followed by Ohio State, is the team to beat for the four-star prospect. Earlier this month, Powell was arguably the best performer at the U.S. Army All-American Combine.
CB Robbie Robinson – Hampton, Virginia – Phoebus
Clemson continues to be in strong position for Robinson, who was last on campus in November for the South Carolina game. Rated as a four-star athlete by Rivals and 247, Robinson continues to look closely at Clemson, Virginia and Penn State, among others.
LB Jamie Skalski – Newnan, Georgia – Northgate
Clemson and South Carolina both had Skalski in for their camps last summer. For a while, the Gamecocks were listed as the leader ahead of the Tigers, but it appears that things may have changed for the 6-1, 225-pound three-star.
CB Saivion Smith – Bradenton, Florida – IMG Academy
Smith was alongside Chase for the South Carolina game. Saturday will be Smith’s third trip to Clemson. A five-star, Scout and 247 list Smith as the best cornerback in the class of 2016. Rivals ranks him as the No. 2 cornerback in the country.
DT Malik Walker – Montezuma, Georgia – Macon County
Clemson was one of the early offers for Walker, who’s also picked up scholarships from Georgia Tech, Tennessee and UCLA. He last visited Clemson in the fall for the Louisville game.
Two of the state’s top 2016 prospects, John Simpson and Nyles Pinckney, were considering trips to either Clemson or South Carolina. Simpson won’t visit either school because of a wrestling match. Pinckney will visit South Carolina.
Another junior target with a Clemson offer, Hickory-South Caldwell (N.C.) offensive lineman Landon Dickerson, will also head to Columbia for Junior Day at South Carolina.