Clemson has recruited at a high level since Dabo Swinney took over as head coach midway through the 2008 season.

But Clemson’s run to the College Football Playoff championship game last season was an invaluable advertisement for the Clemson brand, and it is paying further dividends on the recruiting trail.

The brand is growing, Clemson’s reach is expanding and the conversation about why a prospect should come to Clemson is simply more easily had right now.

“I think the biggest change is just more people want to come see Clemson,” Swinney said Tuesday during his annual media golf outing at The Reserve on Lake Keowee. “It’s an easier conversation. We’ve just had a lot more guys that want to come see us — unofficially, come to camp, whatever it may be.”

Clemson’s assistant coaches have felt the recruiting impact in the aftermath of last year’s success, as well.

Defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks noted that the constant spotlight Clemson received nationally last season has informed more recruits who might have been unaware of what Clemson represents and has to offer.

“You couldn’t pay a million dollars for that advertisement,” Brooks said. ” The guys that didn’t know as much about Clemson, they’ve seen that Tiger Paw. It’s orange and it’s competing for the national championship and the Orange Bowl. The visibility is there for them with the media coverage that we received.”

Defensive backs coach Mike Reed admitted he is greeted a little bit differently now when he recruits at schools afar.

“The brand is visible. You go into a high school and the athletes, the students, the faculty at the schools recognize the brand,” Reed said. “They say, ‘Coach, congratulations on the season. Coach, you guys looked tremendous,’ and things of that nature. It’s one of those situations where the brand is out there, and everybody recognizes it.”

After nearly winning it all, Clemson is taking full advantage on the recruiting front — and it may just be the beginning of the recruiting uprise.

“There’s the old saying if we can get them in here, we have a chance,” Swinney said, “and that holds true whether it’s a kid from 50 miles away or a kid from 500 miles.

“It’s a change.”