Tour of Champions: 5-star Salyer says two-team race ‘still tight’

With his commitment date quickly approaching, Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy five-star offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer has cut his recruitment down to two schools — Clemson and Georgia.

“I’m down to those two now,” Salyer told The Clemson Insider on Friday during our Tour of Champions stop at Calhoun High to see him and Clemson commit Brannon Spector.

Salyer (6-3, 340) is set to make an official visit to Clemson this weekend when the Tigers host The Citadel.

The nation’s top-ranked guard said he is looking forward to seeing one thing in particular.

“Just being able to experience the atmosphere,” he said. “I don’t think I really got a chance to experience it last time I went, so just getting a chance to experience that game-day atmosphere.”

The official visit will mark Salyer’s first time at Clemson since he made an appearance at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June. He also visited Clemson to watch a spring practice in March after attending the Tigers’ junior day in January.

Because he has already visited Georgia a few times this season, some outsiders and fans have speculated that the Bulldogs hold the clear edge for Salyer. However, he says that isn’t necessarily the case.

“I think it’s still a pretty tight decision,” he said. “Athens is easy come, easy go, so it’s easy to get up there. But I think it’s still tight.”

Salyer plans to announce his commitment on Dec. 15 and then sign on Dec. 20. The recruiting process has worn on Salyer, so he couldn’t be more ready for those dates to get here.

When the time comes to make his decision, what will be the most important factors for Salyer?

“Just being comfortable with the school, comfortable with the place, my family being comfortable,” Salyer said, “knowing that I’ll get a good degree and get a great education.”

Salyer is ranked by the major recruiting services as a consensus top-two offensive guard and top-30 overall prospect in the 2018 class.