By Hale McGranahan.

Rashan Gary, who’s rated as the country’s No. 1 defensive tackle in the class of 2016, visited Clemson on Saturday.

Joined by his mother, Jennifer Coney, Gary also visited South Carolina and Georgia, before heading back hom to Paramus, New Jersey.

On Monday, TheClemsonInsider spoke with Coney about their trip down south.

“It was, overall, a good experience. It was the first time going on really in-depth unofficials…so he could get a real feel,” she said. “This was the reason why I went with him, because when he goes, I need him to be thorough, ask thorough questions, get as much information as he can.

“So it was really informative, interesting and learned a lot about the scholarship process, college process, college athletics on a scholarship basis, the academic requirements and how these schools are going to make sure Rashan is academically successful and have the support that he will need in education and athletics, and also to still be a teenager and enjoy himself, enjoy his college life and still work on his craft and get his degree.”

Clemson was their last stop.

“We just saw everything Clemson. They were very in-depth with everything, because that’s what I asked for when I talked to coach (Brent) Venables. The things that I wanted to know, he definitely made sure that I had the information that I wanted,” Coney said. “I like Clemson. My brother is only 20 minutes away from Clemson, so he’s not far from my brother and my nephews, nieces, sister-in-law. And we have family in Georgia. It was an overall great experience.”

Coney’s brother lives in Anderson and works in Seneca.

“For the three colleges we went to, it does help Rashan being away from home. I’m not going to be there all the time, but I will come often,” Coney said. “He wouldn’t have to come and visit, because family is right there. Georgia or South Carolina is an hour and a half away, going north or south. Clemson is 20 minutes away.”

The five-star defensive tackle had 55 tackles and 14 sacks as a junior at Paramus Catholic. He has offers from all of the nation’s top programs and hopes to hit several up for visits later this spring and summer.

“I know Rashan took a visit to Ohio State and to Michigan. I want to go to Michigan and Ohio State. I want to get a sense and a feel where I’m sending my son off to,” Coney said. “He wants to go to Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, so he wants to go there. We may get a chance to go out west. I’d like to see Notre Dame, Stanford, USC and UCLA, and maybe even Texas.

“I want Rashan to be able to get a feel for where he wants to go. Where is he going to be most happy? If the opportunity presents itself for us to take visits, then we’re definitely going to do. That’s the only way he’s going to be able to narrow down his options and pick his final five, so he can take his official visits in the fall and choose his school.”

And that’s the plan, to take all five of his official visits

“They said he doesn’t have to rush, so he’s not going to rush. That’s the only way he can make an informed decision,” Coney said. “So, when he does commit, he’ll know, ‘This is the school I chose. I looked into it and this is where I want to go.'”

Does she foresee a return to Clemson, officially or unofficially?

“I would think, well, I wouldn’t have — of course, I want to visit my brother, but if Clemson does end up in his final five choices, then he’ll definitely take his official visit,” Coney said.

Coney offered a timeline for Gary to cut down his list of choices.

“I think, by the time he starts his senior year, he’ll definitely have his top five schools. And, hopefully, he’ll have visited his top 20,” she said.