It might be flip season, but there is one Clemson commit who is adamant that he is as solid as he’s ever been.
Four-star safety Kaden Gebhardt (Olentangy, OH), who committed to the Tigers way back in March, says that despite the recent decommitments the Tigers have suffered, he’s fully locked in.
“I won’t be one of them,” Gebhardt told The Clemson Insider. “You don’t have to worry about me flipping.”
Gebhardt fully understands today’s college football landscape, but at the same time, he has more of an old-school mindset. He gave the coaching staff his word, and to him, that means something. While Clemson may be in the midst of a bad season, the blue-chip talent has never come close to wavering.
“To me, if you are not committed, then why are you committing?” Gebhardt said. “I just don’t get it. It is crazy. Everyone has a bad season once in a while. In life, not everything is going to be good.”
However, that hasn’t stopped other schools from trying to test the waters.
“There have been some schools, but I am quick to shut them down,” Gebhardt said. “
Gebhardt was originally interested in Penn State, but when Dabo Swinney hired Tom Allen away from the Nittany Lions, his thought process shifted. That’s how bad the 6-foot-2, 200-plus-pound safety wanted to play for Allen.
Less than a week after Allen was introduced as the new defensive coordinator in January, Gebhardt was on campus for a visit. He left with an offer. He returned in March for the Elite Retreat and committed right after.
While playing for Allen factored in heavily, Gebhardt also quickly developed an admiration for Swinney and how he runs the program, as well as safeties coach Mickey Conn.
“That is a huge part,” Gebhardt said of Allen. “Tom Allen, Coach Conn — and Coach Swinney is the best.”
Gebhardt has already visited twice this season. He was on hand for the LSU game and then returned for the SMU contest two weeks ago. With his high school team on a bye this week, he is hoping to be on campus when the Tigers host Duke on Saturday.
He readily admits that he never expected this to be a down season for Clemson. He knows it’s a part of the sport. He chooses to view what’s happening as an opportunity.
“I have been a little surprised — all the hype before the season started,” Gebhardt said. “For me, it is an opportunity to come in there and make a statement day one when I get there in January.”
Down season or not, Gebhardt believes in Swinney. He has full faith in the head coach’s ability to get things turned around, and for that reason, he chooses not to play any part in flip season.
“Just the culture and the structure of the program. What they believe in,” Gebhardt said. “I think that will be a big part of it. I just trust them. I straight up trust them.”
Photo by Bart Boatwright