When Clemson was ready to expand the recruiting board at defensive tackle, Jaden Wuerth seemed like an obvious candidate for the Tigers to zero in on next.
The three-star talent just wrapped up his first season at Dutch Fork after beginning his high school career in Georgia. While he’s been on the radar of the coaching staff for quite some time, he just picked up an offer last week after getting a visit from assistant Nick Eason. Wuerth was expecting head coach Dabo Swinney and assistant Matt Luke to make a stop by his school late last week.
However, Wuerth is fully aware that Clemson likes to take its time with potential targets.
“Some of these other schools might come by the school, and they have heard about you before, might have watched your tape, and they just offer right there. They try and build the relationship after they offer,” Wuerth told The Clemson Insider. “With Clemson, they have really focused heavily on our relationship. We have been building it for a long time, and it has led up to this offer.”
And it’s one of the offers that Wuerth wanted.
“It definitely means a lot,” Wuerth added. “I was kind of waiting on this one. I really wanted this one pretty bad, so I was pretty happy when Nick Eason offered me.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound prospect has visited Clemson multiple times in the past, with the last one coming for the season opener against LSU. He’s now locked in his next visit, planning to return for the Elite Retreat on March 7.
“I am looking forward to just seeing all of the coaches again in person,” Wuerth said. “Just being able to catch up with some guys that are also being recruited by Clemson. Catching up with the staff as a whole.”
Like most, Wuerth was caught off guard by some of the struggles the Tigers experienced in 2025. At the same time, he believes Tom Allen’s defense improved throughout the season.
He also believes that with all of the portal additions on the defensive side of the ball, Clemson is on the right track to righting the ship.
“I was pretty surprised, especially with Tom Allen coming and some of the talent they had,” Wuerth said. “But adversity happens, and it is how you respond to it. I think this year, with them hitting the portal a little more, they will definitely be much better and hopefully get back to where Dabo had them in the past.”
And Wuerth is a big believer in Allen’s ability to have the Tigers’ defense playing at a high level.
“The defense is definitely improved,” Wuerth said. “They struggled a bit early in the season, but later in the season, they started playing better, and they came together. He is just a great coach. He is always sending me inspirational things that help me along my journey. I appreciate that. I think he is a great mentor with great leadership qualities. Someone I would definitely love to play for.”
As a junior, Wuerth registered 62 tackles with 12 tackles for loss in helping the Silver Foxes to another state title. He also had four sacks and three forced fumbles.
Georgia Tech, Miami, South Carolina and Vanderbilt are just a few of the other teams to have offered, and now, after having offered, the Tigers have officially become a team to watch.
“Right at the top,” Wuerth said. “I was always very high on Clemson when I visited a couple of times. This was definitely an offer I was waiting on, and they are definitely up there high for me.”
Photo courtesy of Jaden Wuerth on X (formerly known as Twitter)