It’s no coincidence Clemson has all or just about most of its recruiting classes wrapped up before national signing day the last several years. Why?
“I have always said these guys that wait until signing day, all they are doing is following,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “The class is over. If you really want to be a leader in your class, then lead.”
Swinney pointed out that all 14 kids that signed with Clemson this past Wednesday are made up with that leadership quality. They all committed to the Tigers and stayed committed before national signing day, in most cases, a year or more.
“Guys that are that way, they lead,” Swinney said. “They lead and they impact our class. Guys that come on signing day, it’s great to get a good guy like that, but they are just trying to add on to a class like that. The class is over.”
The best example of one of those leaders was Deshaun Watson. The Clemson quarterback committed to the Tigers when he was still in the 10th grade, on National Signing Day in 2012.
“I literally tried to talk him out of it because I knew what he was going to be,” Swinney said. “It was like ‘Oh my goodness!’ But I did not know him as well then. He was a tenth grader and he said I’m going to be your quarterback.”
Watson became the greatest quarterback and arguably the greatest player in Clemson history. He is also considered the greatest leader the program has ever had. He led the Tigers to a 32-3 record as a starter, three straight wins over rival South Carolina, two ACC Championships, bowl wins over Oklahoma and Ohio State and a 35-31 victory over Alabama in last month’s National Championship Game.
Watson led Clemson to its first national championship in 35 years.
“He knew what he wanted to do as a tenth grader,” Swinney said. “He started recruiting other guys and then they wanted to come and play with him. That’s just how it all works. Again, they are all very aware of what the situation is. It is interesting.”
They all wanted to be leaders.
–Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) after a 35-31 victory over Alabama in the National Championship Game. (Photo by Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
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