It comes in handy to be a versatile player on either side of the ball in Clemson’s schemes, especially on defense.

Being able to transition to several different positions (along with having an excellent motor and speed), makes size less of a factor when it comes to guys like Ryan Carter and Jalen Williams.

That is one of the attributes that draws Clemson coaches to recruits like Taye Barber of Cy Springs (Texas) High School. Barber, a standout cornerback and wide receiver, has the prototypical size and flexibility to play nickel, corner and some safety for the Tigers. Coming in at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, he already has the frame and similar tools to those of Carter.

Barber told The Clemson Insider he wants “to try and get to Clemson, Ole Miss, Iowa State, Mizzou, and Tennessee sometime over the next couple of months.” He also said all five of those schools are recruiting him hard, but does not have any favorites as of right now as he wants to “feel everything out and see how stuff goes.”

Barber still has the same target time for his decision, which should end up being around the beginning of August or sometime during the football season. Until then, he is scouting around to see if his target schools have all of the items on his checklist.

“I just want to have fun and play early … family culture,” he said. “And somewhere where I can call home and win games.”

Barber frequently talks with Clemson’s defensive backs coach Mike Reed. He also told TCI Clemson is “Pretty high up there, and I still want to go see the place.”

Whenever and if he does take a visit in the near future, Barber said he “wants to have fun and enjoy myself, and see if I could call the place home for the next couple of years.”

If all of those things check out, an assurance he can play early and a lot will help aid his decision.

“I want to go somewhere where I play early and as much as possible,” he said.

While he is a versatile player on both sides of the ball, Clemson is recruiting him on defense. Barber said he will play on either side of the ball.

However, if the Tigers did end up giving him offensive snaps at wideout, “it would be great because they throw the ball a lot,” he said.

It will be interesting to see how Barber’s recruitment develops with Clemson over the coming months. He said he can already envision himself as a Tiger in Death Valley.

“It would be amazing! Playing under the lights for a great program like Clemson…would be crazy,” he said.

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