Clemson is going toe-to-toe with Alabama for the Yellowhammer State’s top 2018 prospect, five-star wide receiver Justyn Ross.
But Ross isn’t the only prospect from Alabama that the Tigers are targeting. Clemson has its eye on a number of prospects from the state in the class of 2019.
TCI takes a look at some of the prospects from Alabama to watch for the 2019 class as it relates to Clemson:
Pierce Quick, 5-star OT, Trussville, Ala. (Hewitt-Trussville) – Alabama commit:
Quick (pictured above) is ranked as a top-50 overall prospect in the 2019 class by all the major recruiting services. The five-star committed to Alabama last April and remains firm in his commitment to the Crimson Tide. However, Quick is doing his due diligence with the recruiting process, as he knows a lot can happen between now and the time he signs on the dotted line next year. He is keeping his options open, and Clemson is chief among his other choices.
Quick visited Clemson for the first time last March. After receiving an offer from the Tigers in September, he returned to Clemson for its elite junior day on Jan. 20 and continued to build upon his relationship with the coaching staff. The in-state standout grew up an Alabama fan, and it will be tough for any school to flip his commitment from Nick Saban and the Tide. But Quick is legitimately interested in Clemson and giving the program sincere consideration. “I still am committed to Alabama,” Quick told TCI after the junior day visit. “But seeing Clemson, it definitely helped their chances. We had a great visit.”
Clay Webb, 5-star OG, Oxford, Ala. (Oxford):
Webb is unanimously ranked as the top prospect in Alabama for the 2019 class. The five-star impressed at the Dabo Swinney Camp last June before receiving an offer from Clemson shortly thereafter. Along with Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia are considered the primary contenders at this stage of his recruitment. Webb will likely wait until after his senior season to commit. Like Quick, pulling Webb out of the state of Alabama is a tall task for the Tigers. But Clemson is in the hunt and figures to remain in the mix for the long haul.
Vonta Bentley, 4-star LB, Birmingham, Ala. (Jackson-Olin):
Bentley entered this year with just one scholarship offer from Alcorn State. But his recruitment exploded in January, when he amassed offers from Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Louisville, South Carolina and Oregon among others. Area recruiter Todd Bates communicated with Bentley for the first time on Jan. 24 before informing him of an offer from Clemson two days later. Bentley told TCI that he was excited about the offer. “I love their defense,” he said. “They run a great defense and have those dawgs. And I love their fan base. Also that’s a school in my choice because their coaches treat them like family and even the fans.”
Bentley’s recruitment is just getting started and there’s a ways to go before he makes a decision. Bentley said he was planning to attend Clemson’s next junior day in March, and the Tigers will look to further their relationship with him then. Last season, Bentley logged 79 tackles in eight games. He transferred from Birmingham (Ala.) Parker to Jackson-Olin when the second semester began last month.
Paul Tyson, 4-star QB, Trussville, Ala. (Hewitt-Trussville):
Tyson was spectacular as a junior last season, when he completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,983 yards and 33 touchdowns with just three interceptions. The great grandson of legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant has offers from Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arkansas, Wisconsin and others. Tyson was among the standout performers at the Swinney Camp last June. He also visited Clemson for its junior day last March. Most believe Tyson will ultimately end up at Alabama considering his family ties, but Clemson is showing interest and would figure to get a good look if it offers in the future.
Ray Thornton, 3-star S, Phenix City, Ala. (Central):
Thornton hails from the same school as Justyn Ross. The talented safety showed well at the Swinney Camp last summer before visiting Clemson for the Auburn game last season. Thornton told TCI after the visit that he “loved every second of it.” Duke and Mississippi State account for Thornton’s only offers, but he should see more come his way moving forward. Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia are some of the other schools that have shown interest along with the Tigers.
Hamp Greene, WR, Birmingham, Ala. (Mountain Brook):
Greene is relatively new to the recruiting process but made visits to Clemson, Alabama and Samford last season. Clemson brought him in for the Wake Forest game in October. “Clemson is unique in a lot of ways,” Greene told TCI recently. “I really like the approach coach Dabo uses and I love the environment at Clemson.” Greene also attended Clemson’s win over Syracuse in 2016 and competed at the Swinney Camp last summer as well.
Greene is the son of former Alabama kicker Hamp Greene Sr., who was teammates with Swinney on the Tide’s 1992 national championship team. In addition to Clemson, the younger Greene has gotten early interest from Alabama, Troy, Jacksonville State, Harvard and Samford.