Since Larry Fedora showed up to the ACC almost four years ago, Clemson and North Carolina have gone head-to-head for several prospects, many of whom will hit the field at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night.
A handful of the defensive players on UNC’s two-deep depth chart picked up Clemson offers.
Clemson was one of the many for New Jersey native DaJuan Drennon, but the highly-recruited defensive end never gave much consideration to the Tigers. The sophomore starter has five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season.
Jalen Dalton, a reserve defensive tackle, is a freshman out of West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, N.C. He visited Clemson for camp and for a couple of games, but UNC added him the summer before his senior year.
Fellow defensive tackle Robert Dinkins also considered Clemson. Dinkins, a product of Charlotte-Olympic, committed to UNC in the summer before his junior year. Clemson even scored a visit in the fall, but the interest didn’t have legs.
Starting strong-side linebacker Cayson Collins (Charlotte-Berry) was evaluated by Clemson, but the Tigers never offered. He committed to UNC over NC State.
Reserve safeties J.K. Britt and Allen Artis, both of whom are from Georgia, had Clemson offers.
Artis, a 2014 from Marietta-Wheeler, visited Clemson in March of his junior year. Three months later, he committed to UNC.
Britt, a 2015 cornerback target from Newnan, visited Clemson several times and even listed the Tigers as his leader. Space was tight in the Tigers’ class once Kaleb Chalmers committed at the 2014 spring game.
Starting cornerback Des Lawrence visited Clemson twice during his career at Charlotte Christian. The second trip, in March of of his junior year, netted him an offer. Less than a month later, the 2013 prospect committed to UNC.
Lawrence’s backup, Mike Hughes, was also offered by Clemson. Defensive backs coach Mike Reed gave him the head’s up during the 2013 May evaluation period, but the New Bern, N.C. product never visited Clemson before signing with UNC earlier this year.