Deuce Geralds first visit to Clemson came when he attended a camp several years back. His second came back in March, for the Elite Junior Day.
On that last visit, the 4-star defensive lineman, out of Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga), had his eyes opened to everything the Clemson culture represents, starting with the transparency Dabo Swinney prides his program on.
“Talking to Coach Swinney, he told us about the program and the culture,” Geralds told The Clemson Insider. “They showed the proof and the facts they were including.”
Geralds was one of the Tigers’ opening offers earlier this month, and seeing how few players actually pick up one of those offers from Clemson, it made this one feel a little special to the 6-foot-2, 265-pound blue-chip talent.
“They showed us the reason why they don’t offer all these kids, they want to make it special with the offer,” Geralds said. “Just getting this offer, it did feel special for me. To be one of only 26 kids with this offer and receive it this early, that was very special to me.”
The presentation also included some statistics on just how successful Swinney has been since taking over the program full-time following the 2008 season.
“Coach Dabo is probably the best coach that’s still out there after Nick Saban retired,” Geralds said. “They had all these different win categories, and Saban was the only one competing with him in any of those categories. So now that Nick Saban retired, he’s number one in every single category.”
Geralds also knows a handful of players that are currently on the team, including defensive linemen Peter Woods, TJ Parker and Champ Thompson. That last visit gave him a chance to catch up with some of those guys, as well as strengthen his relationship with defensive tackles coach Nick Eason.
“I feel like he’s one of the coolest coaches out there,” Geralds said. “I feel like he’s really easy to talk to. Great coach. I actually know a couple of guys out there that are being coached up by him at the school right now. Hearing from them how they feel about coach Eason. How he’s more than a football coach. He’s going to be a person in your life for the rest of your life and stuff like that. I feel very strong about coach Eason and our relationship.”
Knowing some players that are already on the roster gives Geralds a better understanding of what Clemson has to offer.
“They just tell me how great it is and how much they love it and stuff,” he said. “That’s just something great to hear. I actually have people that’s there that I know that are experiencing it.”
Geralds, who has close to 40 offers in total, is ranked inside the Top 100 overall by multiple recruiting services, with Rivals ranking him No. 28 overall and No. 3 among all defensive linemen.
North Carolina, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Miami and Texas, along with Clemson are just some of the schools that Geralds is hearing from the most. He is hoping to make it back to campus this summer, but if not then he said he will definitely make it in for a game this fall.
Geralds is looking to make a decision at some point next summer, after official visits and ahead of the start of his senior season. Development and culture will play huge factors as he gets deeper into the process.
“I’m looking for school to keep me on track of being like a great young man, and building me to be more than just a football player,” Geralds said. “Also on the other hand, developing my football ability and my academic ability. The school that’s going to set me up for the rest of my life, me my family. Somewhere I can feel like I’m at home.”
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