Clemson recruiting roundup: Latest news and notes
By: Gavin Oliver January 17, 2018

The Clemson Insider rounds up the latest recruiting news and notes surrounding the Tigers:

Clemson coaches busy on recruiting trail. The January contact period began last Friday, and Clemson’s coaching staff has hit the recruiting trail in full force this week to see prospects. The Tigers stayed busy in the Peach State on Wednesday, checking in with several top recruits in the 2019 class.

On Tuesday night, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates attended a basketball game at Perry (Ga.) High. The contest featured Thomaston (Ga.) Upson-Lee four-star Travon Walker (pictured above), a two-sport standout that is one of Clemson’s priority defensive line targets in the class of 2019.

Walker (6-5, 255) is working with a top four of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and South Carolina. Besides those schools, Walker has been in contact the most with Notre Dame, Auburn and Florida. He hopes to make a decision by the end of his senior football season. In case you missed it, TCI spoke with Walker about Clemson and his recruitment last week.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, Swinney stopped by Buford (Ga.) High to check in on 2019 four-star offensive lineman Harry Miller.

Miller (6-4, 310) is planning to attend Clemson’s elite junior day this weekend. He has been on Clemson’s campus numerous times over the last couple of years, including for a game in the fall, and continues to hold the program in high regard.

Miller during Clemson visit for Boston College game Sept. 23, 2017

Clemson staffers also made a stop at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) High on Tuesday. Safeties coach Mickey Conn and defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall were there for 2019 five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe and 2019 four-star defensive end Kevin Harris.

Peach State backer picks up Clemson offer. Savannah (Ga.) Islands junior linebacker Kalen Deloach received an offer from Clemson on Tuesday.

The Class of 2019 prospect also collected offers from LSU and North Carolina yesterday. South Carolina gave him his first power conference offer in September before West Virginia followed with an offer in November.

Deloach (6-1, 205) visited Clemson for The Citadel game last season, and TCI has confirmed he will be back on campus for the Tigers’ junior day this weekend.

Other notes.

** Monroe (N.C.) Sun Valley four-star quarterback Sam Howell was offered by Georgia on Wednesday. The highly regarded 2019 quarterback picked up an offer from Ohio State last week following Clemson’s offer two weeks ago.

** Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer four-star cornerback Taiyon Palmer has arguably been the biggest beneficiary of the early signing period. The former Duke commitment is one of the most attractive defensive back options left on the market ahead of national signing day. He continued to rack up offers on Tuesday when Florida, Georgia Tech and Cal threw their hats in the ring. Maryland offered on Wednesday.

Since the beginning of the calendar year, Palmer has hauled in offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Arkansas and others. Clemson is aiming to get an official visit.

** Palmer’s teammate at Archer, 2019 four-star cornerback Andrew Booth, added an offer from Florida on Tuesday. Booth is one of Clemson’s top cornerback targets in the next cycle, and he attended each of Clemson’s first three home games in 2017.

** Twin City (Ga.) Emanuel County Institute 2019 four-star defensive end Curtis Fann said he will visit South Carolina on Saturday. The Gamecocks are in Fann’s top four along with Clemson, Auburn and Florida.

** Spartanburg (S.C.) Day five-star forward Zion Williamson was named a McDonald’s All-American on Tuesday. The Clemson target is set to reveal his college choice at 8 p.m. Saturday.