The Clemson Insider has a batch of the latest recruiting news and notes surrounding the Tigers:
Clemson targets at Georgia. A number of priority 2018 Clemson targets were at Georgia over the weekend for its Junior Day.
Warner Robins (Ga.) Houston County four-star offensive guard Trey Hill was on hand. He also attended Clemson’s Junior Day in January. Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth five-star defensive end K.J. Henry and Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic five-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell were there, as well. Henry was unable to make it to Clemson’s Junior Day due to a scheduling conflict, while Mitchell told us recently that he plans to visit Clemson soon.
Perhaps the most notable visitor, though, was Laurinburg (N.C.) Scotland County five-star running back Zamir White, who initially planned to visit North Carolina before changing his mind late in the week. It was his second trip to Georgia in three weeks after he elected to attend Georgia’s Junior Day on Jan. 28 instead of Clemson’s the same day. The return visit is an indication that Georgia has become Clemson’s most formidable competition for the nation’s No. 1 running back and consensus top-10 prospect.
It’s also another layer to a battle between Clemson and Georgia on the recruiting trail in this class that is heating up. The Bulldogs and Tigers are vying for other mutual targets such as Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer, Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian four-star cornerback Kyler McMichael, Stockbridge (Ga.) four-star defensive end Brenton Cox and Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett four-star defensive end Justin Mascoll.
Update on Thomas. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas competed at The Opening Orlando regional on Sunday and earned an invitation to The Opening finals, which will be held in Beaverton, Ore., over the summer.
According to multiple reports from the event, Thomas reiterated that Clemson and South Carolina are the two schools he is still focused on. The native of Florence, S.C., announced in December that he will return home to play college football in the state of South Carolina.
Thomas said that Clemson and South Carolina are about even in his mind right now. He visited Clemson for the January Junior Day and is planning to get back to South Carolina soon.
The No. 2 prospect in the 2018 class is expected to make a decision before his senior season or at some point during it.
Adams adds big offers. Jordyn Adams, Clemson’s top target at receiver in the 2018 cycle, added a pair of prominent offers from Alabama and Ohio State on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Adams, who received an offer from Clemson in October, visited Clemson for the Syracuse and South Carolina games last season. He returned for Clemson’s Junior Day last month. The four-star enrolled at Green Hope High in Cary, N.C., last month after transferring from Blythewood (S.C.). His dad, Deke Adams, was hired as North Carolina’s new defensive line coach in January.
Top 2019 prospect set for visit. Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway five-star offensive guard Keiondre Jones, one of the top prospects in the 2019 class, said on Twitter on Saturday that he will visit Alabama this coming weekend and Clemson next weekend.
The trip to Clemson will occur for the school’s second Junior Day of the year on March 4. It will be Jones’ third time on campus, as he visited last summer before attending the N.C. State game in October. Jones told TCI after the game that it was his best game-day visit to that point. Clemson is an early favorite of his.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder has close to 20 offers already, including ones from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee. He is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 guard in the 2019 class and the No. 21 overall prospect.