By Hale McGranahan.

Seven days before his return to the Clemson campus, John Simpson won the South Carolina AAAA wrestling State Championship in the heavyweight division.

Simpson, a junior, beat Clover’s Zach Conrad in sudden death overtime, 2-1.

“It was incredible. I didn’t think I could do it this year. I guess, from all the practice I’ve had, I guess I was prepared this year,” Simpson told TheClemsonInsider on Saturday night, after his Junior Day trip to Clemson.

On the visit, Simpson was joined by Fort Dorchester teammate DaKereon Joyner, a 2018 quarterback.

“It was fun. I had a great time,” Simpson said.

What made it such an enjoyable experience?

“The practice. I liked how intense the practice was.”

Watching offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell was also a plus.

“He’s an intense coach. I like the way how he gets it done. He yells, but he doesn’t come right out with it. He doesn’t do it too much. He does enough to get the players focused and get everything straight,” Simpson said.

The four-star guard detailed the rest of the afternoon in Tigertown.

“We ate at first. They talked to us about academics. We went on a tour of the school. We had a meeting, only the 2016 class, and that’s pretty much it,” Simpson said. “We took a tour, that was the longest part of the day, taking the tour, but that was the best part.”

He added, “I said that’s the best part because I got to see some stuff I’d never seen before.”

During the tour, Simpson spent time with co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott. He also had a 1-on-1 opportunity with Caldwell.

“They just told me that I was a big priority, since I’m an instate o-lineman,” Simpson said.

Georgia and Mississippi State will have him on campus before the end of the month. A trip to LSU could also be in the works.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to take any more visits,” Simpson said. “I’m just going to see how everything pans out on the visits that I take.”

Simpson lists a top three of Clemson, Mississippi State and LSU, but he’s not looking to make a visit anytime soon.

“I want to get the feel of the top colleges on my list,” he said.