A Pee Dee prospect is set to make his first visit to Clemson next month.

2027 in-state safety Rod Cranford (Hartsville) plans to visit on March 23 and attend a spring practice.

Cranford got his film in front of assistant safeties coach Elijah Turner, who liked what he saw. On top of the spring visit, Cranford also plans to camp at Clemson this summer.

“I DM’d the coach my film, and he got back to me and said he really loved my film,” Cranford told The Clemson Insider. “That they would really like to see an in-person evaluation of me. They invited me to a spring practice and to camp.”

Coming up in the Pee Dee area, Cranford grew up rooting for the Tigers. It’s the one school he’s dreamed of playing at since he was a youngster.

“A lot of people in my family know Clemson is my dream school,” Cranford said. “I want to meet the coaching staff and build relationships. And academics as well, because my GPA is really good. I think Clemson is not just a good football school but a really good academic program as well.”

Cranford also plans to visit Charlotte and USF next month. A date to South Carolina could also get added at some point. He was on hand in Columbia when the Tigers beat the Gamecocks in November. He also took in-season visits to Florida, Wake Forest, North Carolina, NC State and Coastal Carolina.

However, it’s Dabo Swinney’s program that Cranford has a strong interest in.

“It is a dream. A dream come true,” he added. “It’s the culture, the environment. Dabo Swinney and what he’s got with the players. That is my favorite coach. Not just with football but the speeches he gives. I just love the culture at Clemson.”

As a junior, Cranford earned first-team All-State honors after being credited with 85 tackles, six tackles for loss and an interception. He also had eight pass breakups, three blocked kicks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

While Cranford has yet to firm up a timeline for making a decision, he does know what it is he is looking for in a school.

“Academics are number one. I want to get a degree,” Cranford said. “Number two, will they take care of me. How can they build me as a man? How can they help me with my future after football?”

He also knows he won’t be chasing money as he’s a firm believer in the idea that if he produces, that will take care of itself.

“I don’t really want to chase money because I know that will come,” Cranford said. “I am not really worried about NIL. I feel like the money will come later.”