Carter Jones has long had a strong interest in Clemson.
Matt Luke was one of the first coaches at a major program to start showing genuine interest in the four-star offensive lineman (Poquoson, VA) back in the summer of 2024 when Jones showed up to work out at camp.
Seeing as he’s been on campus several times since, including a game-day visit for the Tigers’ season opener against LSU, it should come as no surprise that Jones was one of the first targets Luke visited this week once assistant coaches hit the road recruiting.
Jones recently released a Top 10 that includes Clemson, Tennessee, Ohio State, Virginia, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Penn State, Texas and Florida. While some might assume the Tigers’ going 7-6 after starting the season ranked inside of the Top 5 would change how Jones views the program. Most would be wrong.
“It was a little bit of a surprise to me,” Jones told The Clemson Insider. “They did so well against LSU. That game could have really gone either way. I was there. If that LSU game had gone towards Clemson’s side, and Clemson would have won that one, they would have had a better season.”
Due to the disappointing season, Dabo Swinney is turning to former offensive coordinator Chad Morris to replace Garrett Riley, who was dismissed last week. While Jones is a big Riley fan, he believes Swinney made the right call.
“I really liked Coach Riley,” Jones said. “I think it was a good decision by Coach Swinney, to be honest. Coach Riley will do good wherever he goes, but I do think it was a good decision.”
Jones is anxious to see what kind of impact Morris will have on the Tigers’ offense. Even with the program going through some obvious changes, he still holds Swinney’s team in high regard, and he’s fully confident the head coach will right the ship.
“They definitely are still a top school for me,” Jones added. “Knowing him, and knowing their vision at Clemson, I know they are going to keep working for it and keep pushing. One bad season in ten years doesn’t define them. They will keep working towards it and they are going to do it the right way, too.”
Jones generally hears from a few times a week. While other schools reach out every day, some of those are just generic text messages. When Luke, or assistant OL coach Carson Cramer reach out, Jones says those communications tend to hit a little different.
“I would say two to three times a week,” Jones said. “Some schools are texting me every day, but they are texting a lot of recruits at the same time. Kind of sending the same message. With Coach Luke and Coach Cramer, when I hear from them, it is really personalized. It is more genuine. You can really tell they are only sending it to me.”
And those type of communications absolutely set the Tigers apart.
“That makes a huge difference for me,” Jones said. “When I was making my Top 10, what I was looking for was where they rank up outside of football. That is ome of the things I had on my mind when I was making it. A lot of these schools, it was based off relationships and faith. Stuff like that. They rank pretty highly.”
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound lineman currently ranks No. 220 overall in the 247 Composite Rankings.
Due to a travel football circuit he’s involved with currently, Jones won’t be making many visits during the month of January, but he plans to get to Tennessee on the 17th. He’s also planning a trip the weekend of the 24th, but he’s not sure yet where he will be. Auburn, Penn State and Virginia are options at this point.
Jones plans to be back in Clemson on March 7 to attende the Elite Retreat, one of Clemson’s biggest recruiting events of the year.
“I am really excited to meet the other recruits that they are really hard after,” he said. “I know most of them, but I am excited to spend this time with them and excited to meet the players. And the coaches, of course.”
As things stand right now, Jones said he also plans to give Clemson one of his official visits in June. After he takes those, he plans to make a decision.
While the Tigers won’t hit the field again before that time comes, there’s no way to change the perceptions left from the disappointing 2025 season. However, Jones maintains that isn’t anything he needs to see. He firmly believes Swinney is going to right the ship, and quickly.
“At the end of the day, I know they are going to do good things.”
Photo courtesy of Carter Jones on X (formerly known as Twitter)