By Hale McGranahan.
The summer recruiting season is in full-swing. Unfortunately, real, live college football is still several months away.
With that in mind, TheClemsonInsider is taking a look back at the recruitment of each returning player on the Clemson roster.
CB Mackensie Alexander, Immokalee (FL) – RS Sophomore
Clemson made quite the splash on signing day in 2013, bringing in Mackensie Alexander, Tyrone Crowder, Korrin Wiggins, Adrian Baker and Ryan Carter.
Alexander was the crown jewel. The former four-star prospect announced his decision during a live signing day broadcast on ESPNU.
“My four years will be at the University of Clemson,” he told the world that February morning.
Rece Davis, the show’s host, asked why.
“Dabo Swinney, he’s just a good guy. He’s a church guy like me. He made it from the bottom to the top. That staff, coach [Brent] Venables, coach [Mike] Reed, I trust them guys.
“I’m going to be in a great position. All those guys are talking about the SEC right now, it is what it is. We’re No. 4 in the country.
“We’re going to win the national title.”
Alexander signed with Clemson over Auburn, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. His twin brother, Mackenro, who signed with Auburn that day.
In January of his junior year, Alexander committed to Tennessee, before stepping foot on the campus. The pledge lasted for about two months.
Alexander was all over the board when it came to telling reporters which schools he was considering. Traditional powers like Alabama and Notre Dame were mentioned as suitors, so were not-so-powerful programs like Kentucky and Rutgers.
As it turned out, Clemson was consistently mentioned as a contender.
Dabo Swinney & Co. hosted Alexander for an official visit that November for the Maryland game. Texas A&M scored an official visit in October. Mississippi State and Rutgers hosted him in January.
Throughout his recruitment, Alexander was pretty good about keeping reporters guessing. Interviews were always hard to come by. When they were granted, the answers were pretty vague.