By Hale McGranahan.

Jamie Skalski needed just one afternoon with Brent Venables to change his mind.

“Over the summer, South Carolina was No. 1. I wasn’t really thinking about Clemson that much, then I went to that camp. After that camp with coach Venables, Clemson hoped over South Carolina pretty quick,” Skalski told TheClemsonInsider, during a recent interview.

The three-star linebacker from Northgate High School in Newnan, Georgia committed to Clemson earlier this month on National Signing Day.

“I just felt like they wanted me. I really liked them a lot,” he said. “I like the way coach Venables does things. That’s the guy I’ve been working with for a while. I just kind of fell in love with everything he does.

“I really like the way he was at the camp during the summer. Then, visiting at the Junior Day, I really liked seeing the facilities and stuff like that.”

The next day, Skalski decided he was ready to pull the trigger.

“I just slept on it for a night and I could really see myself in Clemson orange,” he said. “I really want to be apart of it.”

Though Skalski isn’t sure where exactly he’ll play for Venables, he’s not too concerned about it.

“I think I could play a lot of things in his defense. I could play middle linebacker, but also I think I can sit on the edge and play a little more coverage stuff, because I’m pretty fast,” Skalski said. “We’ll see, maybe some outside linebacker, I’m not sure. Wherever he wants me to play, I’ll play it.”

Skalski described himself as a “smart, fast and physical” player.

“I know (Venables) likes my quickness and explosiveness,” Skalski said. “He’s called me pretty physical every time I’ve talked to him. He likes how physical I am.

“I know I’m a pretty smart football player. I’m pretty good at reading stuff. That’s the No. 1 thing I pride myself on, having a good football IQ.”