Clemson is looking to expand the board at defensive end.

One of the Tigers’ top two targets, Cam Brooks, surprisingly committed to Cal in late April. Brooks was one of just two players at the position set to attend the big official visit weekend from May 30 to June 2. The other is four-star Dre Quinn.

With defensive end being a position of need in the 2026 class, Brooks’ announcement leaves Chris Rumph in search of his next candidate.

Late last week, the Tigers’ defensive ends coach was in Tennessee visiting with three-star JR Hardrick (South Pittsburgh). It was the second time Rumph stopped in to visit Hardrick since the start of the contact period. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect also visited Clemson in the spring.

Hardrick just nabbed his first two Power-4 offers in March, with both Louisville and Georgia Tech pulling the trigger. Members of the Virginia Tech coaching staff have also been by recently to visit, and Hardrick also made trips to Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Louisville, North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest and Mississippi State in the spring.

Hardrick has yet to publicly announce an offer from Clemson, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see one in the very near future.

Photo courtesy of JR Hardrick on X (formerly known as Twitter) @JRHardrick2026