The Clemson Insider takes a look ahead at Clemson’s top targets on the offensive line in the 2018 class:
Most of Clemson’s offensive linemen are set to return next season, and the Tigers will add three more in a couple of weeks.
Clemson will be without senior center Jay Guillermo and transferring tackle Jake Fruhmorgen next season, but the trio of Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier four-star guard Matt Bockhorst, Citra (Fla.) North Marion four-star tackle Blake Vinson and Hightstown (N.J.) Peddie three-star tackle Noah DeHond will enter the equation after signing on Feb. 1’s National Signing Day.
Tyrone Crowder and Maverick Morris will be seniors next season, while Mitch Hyatt, Taylor Hearn and Justin Falcinelli will be juniors.
Look for Clemson to sign two or three linemen in the 2018 class. Here are the top names we’re tracking as it stands now:
Nana Asiedu, OT, Stafford, Va. (North Stafford):
Clemson offered Asiedu, a four-star prospect and top-15 tackle nationally, last April. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder’s offer sheet of nearly two dozen schools is highlighted by Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and in-state schools Virginia and Virginia Tech. After first visiting Clemson in June, Asiedu attended his first game at Clemson in October when the Tigers hosted Louisville. Clemson is in Asiedu’s lead group right now, if not the leader.
Richard Gouraige, OT, Tampa, Fla. (Cambridge):
Gouraige is a consensus top-70 prospect nationally and consensus top-10 prospect at his position. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee are among his long list of prominent offers. After Gouraige impressed during a three-day stay in Clemson for the Dabo Swinney Camp in June, Clemson pulled the trigger on its offer in July. In-state Florida and Florida State figure to be heavily involved here, along with the likes of Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State.
Jamaree Salyer, OG, Atlanta, Ga. (Pace Academy):
Clemson extended one of Salyer’s 20-plus offers in June 2015. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound five-star is rated as the No. 1 offensive guard in the country by all of the major recruiting services. Clemson has been one of Salyer’s favorite schools for a while, along with Georgia and Ohio State. This season, Salyer visited Georgia twice and Ohio State once. Salyer last visited Clemson in March and plans to return at some point. Clemson hopes to get his mother on campus, too, when the time comes.
Jackson Carman, OT, Fairfield, Ohio (Fairfield):
Clemson offered Carman, a consensus top-10 prospect nationally who has over 30 offers, in May. On Christmas Day, the 6-foot-6, 295-pounder announced a top 10 of Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Southern Cal. Dream school Ohio State has long been the team to beat for Carman’s services, and he is a top target of the Buckeyes. But Carman wants to visit Clemson, and as Dabo Swinney likes to say, if he can get a prospect on campus then he has a chance. That Carman’s father resides in Charleston doesn’t hurt Clemson’s chances.