We’re approaching the halfway point in the month of July and ACC media days are within site. Unfortunately, real, live college football is still several weeks away.

As the dog days of summer roll on, The Clemson Insider continues its look back at the recruitment of several of Clemson’s returning players.

DT [autotag]D.J. Reader[/autotag], Greensboro, N.C. – RS Senior

Word of Clemson’s offer to Reader came via Jeff Scott. Five ACC schools were already on board by the time [autotag]Clemson[/autotag] came forward: UNC, N.C. State, Maryland and Wake Forest.

A month after the offer, Reader visited Tigertown for Clemson’s 27-13 win over Georgia Tech in 2010. He spoke with several coaches during the visit, including Dabo Swinney, Scott and his father, Brad, the Tigers’ former offensive line coach.

Clemson scored another visit that following March when Reader made the trip south for Junior Day. Along with Swinney and Jeff Scott, Reader met with newly-hired offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell.

Towards the end of the summer, Reader made it known that he also wanted to play baseball in college.

Clemson, UNC and Maryland eventually emerged as the top-three. After looking at him as an offensive lineman, the Tigers were recruiting him to play defensive tackle.

Reader set his official visit to Clemson for the third weekend in January of 2012. Maryland already hosted him. UNC got the third and final trip.

On signing day, Clemson picked up a signature from Reader.