By Hale McGranahan.

BUFORD, Ga. – Because of an upper-body injury, five-star defensive tackle Julian Rochester watched from the sidelines during Sunday’s Opening Regional in Atlanta.

Sporting a sling around his left arm and an umbrella in his right hand, Rochester was one of the most sought-after interviews during the pre-camp media availability, and the contingent of reporters representing the Clemson market spent time with the No. 3 defensive tackle in the class of 2016 (247).

Even though he hasn’t been to Clemson since last summer, a return trip is in the works.

“I know I’ll be up there this summer to see my family, so I’ve got to swing by Clemson,” Rochester said. “I’ve got to, I’ve got to.”

Now at Powder Springs-McEachern High School, Rochester attended Greenville High School as a freshman, before he moved to Georgia.

Auburn continues to hold a lead over Clemson and Georgia, respectively.

Strong position: Four-star defensive end Charles Wiley was in Clemson earlier this month for Junior Day. Afterwards, he told TCI that he did not have a list of favorites.

But the Stockbridge, Georgia junior sang a different tune on Sunday when he told reporters that Clemson and Ole Miss were standing out ahead of his other suitors.

“Because I can talk to the Ole Miss and Clemson coaches about just about anything,” Wiley said. “And, for recruiting, that means a lot to me.”

Opening invitee talks Clemson: E.J. Price (Lawrenceville, Georgia-Archer) was one of the 11 prospects at the Atlanta Opening Regional who picked up an invite to July’s event in Oregon.

Price was one of the headliners in Clemson earlier this year for the Elite Junior Day.

“It was a great experience up there. One of the main things that I really appreciated about Clemson, they say they take care of you after football, but you hear that at a lot of colleges,” he said. “Most of their coaching staff was graduates from Clemson University. With them showing that, it was a big deal to me. They’re not just talking about it. They show their loyalty.”

Up next: A day after the Elite Junior Day event, Luke Elder made the trip up to Tigertown from LaGrange, Georgia and picked up an offer from Clemson. He returned for the March Junior Day.

Elder will attend some camps after narrowing down his list. Whether or not Clemson will get a camp visit is still up in the air.

“(It’s) a good chance, I’ll put it that way,” Elder said. “I’ll put it that way…good chance.”

Future connection: The only two Clemson commitments at the camp were Zerrick Cooper and T.J. Chase. The quarterback/wide receiver duo met earlier this year during the Elite Junior Day and have remained in touch. They spent plenty of time reconnecting on Sunday.

“Running routes and stuff with him, the ball was on point,” Chase said. “In and out of my breaks the ball was right there, and it was a good feeling catching the ball from him.”

The feeling is mutual.

“I love it,” Cooper said. “I can’t wait to play with him.”