While recruiting in the Lone Star State in May, Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed made a stop at South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas, on May 6 to watch four-star safety Atanza Vongor during a spring practice. That evening, Reed delivered word of an offer from Clemson to Vongor over the phone.
The Clemson Insider recently caught up with Vongor, who expects to see Clemson at his school again over the offseason.
“They should be coming down during the offseason and spring,” Vongor told TCI.
Clemson was one of the first handful of schools to offer Vongor, a 2018 recruit who has now racked up over a dozen total offers, highlighted by ones from Alabama, Baylor, Clemson, Georgia, Houston, Michigan, TCU, Texas and Texas A&M.
Vongor recognizes Clemson’s excellence on the field and looks forward to building a relationship with Reed.
“Definitely,” he said. “Love what they’re doing up there at Clemson, competing for championships.”
A long, physical and rangy player at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, Vongor fits the prototype Clemson targets in the secondary.
Vongor said he had a productive junior season for Grand Prairie.
“The season went pretty well. Thank God for that,” Vongor said. “Made it to the playoffs but unfortunately lost first round. Individually I did pretty good. Had two picks and lots of PBUs (pass breakups). Had a good number of tackles, too.”
Vongor took one visit, to TCU, during his season.
“It was dope,” he said. “Loved the coaching staff and the atmosphere.”
TCU, Alabama and FSU are recruiting Vongor the hardest right now, and several schools stand out to Vongor at this stage of his recruiting process.
“TCU, Alabama and (Texas) A&M,” Vongor said.
What are the most prevalent factors for Vongor when considering college choices?
“The important factors will be my relationship with the coaches,” Vongor said, “and the feel of the program for me and my family.”
Vongor is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 18 prospect in Texas, the No. 12 safety nationally and the nation’s No. 154 prospect regardless of position in the 2018 class.