4-star DB C.J. Avery announces top five
By: Gavin Oliver July 29, 2016

Grenada (Miss.) four-star safety C.J. Avery announced his top five schools Friday afternoon, and Clemson made the cut.

Ole Miss, Florida State, Louisville and Mississippi State are also on the list.

Avery is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 5 player in Mississippi, the No. 19 player at his position nationally and the nation’s No. 211 overall player.

Clemson offered Avery on April 22. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder also has offers from Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, California, Cincinnati, Kansas, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, Southern Miss, Stanford and Tennessee.

On June 6, Avery announced a top 10 of (in alphabetical order) Alabama, Auburn, Cal, Clemson, Louisville, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

Avery told The Clemson Insider in July that Clemson is his dream school. He first visited Clemson in June for the Dabo Swinney Football Camp.

“I’ve been dreaming about playing at Clemson for a long time, since I was a little kid,” Avery said in the interview. “I actually didn’t visit Clemson before my top 10, so when I did, I knew they belonged in my top 10.”

Avery also said he has a good relationship with Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and defensive backs coach Mike Reed.

“I have a good relationship with coach Venables,” Avery said. “We talk almost every other day, and both of those guys are cool guys.”

Avery has also visited Alabama, Louisville, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida State this summer.

As a junior in 2015, Avery accounted for 69 total tackles, five tackles for loss and five interceptions.

Avery told TCI he plans to commit sometime after his senior season begins.