The first wide receiver in the 2025 class to score an offer from Clemson was Cortez Mills. The four-star from Homestead (Fla.) High School earned that offer following his strong showing at the Dabo Swinney Camp last summer.

The Clemson Insider recently caught up with Mills, a top-100 national prospect with around 30 total offers, to get the latest on his recruitment and much more.

“The recruiting process has been going great still,” Mills told The Clemson Insider. “A couple schools, head coaches came in the building to see me, and to me that was just outstanding. That was amazing to me, and that just showed me how big of an impact I could be to different programs.”

Mills drew a school visit from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, receivers coach Tyler Grisham and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in late January, and the priority target continues to stay in close contact with Grisham.

“I talked to Coach Dabo when he had come inside the school to come visit me, and he was just telling me how I can make a difference to the offense because I’m a threat and stuff like that,” Mills said. “But I’ve been talking to the receiver coach, Coach Tyler. Me and him have a great bond and we’ve been talking mostly every day.”

Mills named Clemson as one of the schools he’s been hearing the most from lately, along with LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Penn State, Auburn and Florida State.

As it pertains to Clemson, Mills has plenty of respect for Grisham – both as a coach and person – and expects their relationship to keep on growing going forward.

“As a coach, I think he’s a great coach because he coached a lot of people that’s in the NFL, and he really develops people,” Mills said. “So, I think he’s a great coach, and as a person, I just think he’s a great person too. No matter where he’s at, he stays the same and he always is honest and he’s got a great personality… We’ve got a good bond and it’s still going to develop as time goes.”

2025 four-star Homestead (Fla.) wide receiver Cortez Mills during the Dabo Swinney Football Camp in Clemson Sunday, June 11, 2023. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

What message has Grisham conveyed to the 6-foot-2, 170-pound junior?

“He told me I could fit in Clemson well,” Mills said. “If I just come in and work hard and do what I gotta do, I’ll be on the field in no time, and that I’m a great player and I could fit in three (receiver) positions on the offense.”

The Swinney Camp last summer marked Mills’ first and only time on campus so far, though that will change before long, as he has locked in the date for another trip to Tiger Town.

Mills will be back at Clemson for the April 6 spring game.

“I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “I already know the love is going to be outstanding, and the atmosphere is going to be amazing. So, I just can’t wait.”

Mills cut down his recruitment to his top 12 schools on Friday and included Clemson in his list along with LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.

Right now, Mills said he’s looking to commit early in his upcoming senior campaign.

When the time comes for him to make his decision, a few certain things will factor heavily into his college choice.

“All the programs I’m talking to are great, but it’s going to come down to having a bond, not just with me but also with my mom, with the coaches – not just with one coach but multiple coaches,” Mills said. “And the education has got to be great, and they’ve just got to help me develop and get to the next level.”

The Tigers remain high on the list for Mills, who is ranked by Rivals as the No. 17 receiver and No. 100 overall prospect in the country for the 2025 class.

“Clemson still is top five, that still hasn’t changed,” he said. “When I look at Clemson, I know Clemson’s got great education, like 99 percent graduate. So that plays a big part of it, not just having a good football program but also a great school. And like I said before, the atmosphere is always great, so that’s what Clemson really stands out with.”

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