The Clemson Elite Retreat made an impression on Andrew Beard.

The four-star running back (Bogart, GA), who is just one of three players at the position to hold an offer from the Tigers, came away overly impressed with Dabo Swinney’s speech that he gives to recruits each year at the event. The head coach’s speeches each year tend to go long, and this one was no different.

“The visit was amazing,” Beard told The Clemson Insider. “It was long, but it was amazing, though. It was at least two and a half (hours). He was talking for a while. And that was after we had been out at a spring practice and position meetings and all that.”

The biggest thing Beard took away from Swinney’s message was how the rev-share and NIL stuff is handled at the school. Swinney has said on multiple occasions he won’t pay an incoming freshman more than the proven veterans on his roster, and that was something that left an impression on the blue-chip prospect.

“Really just his philosophy on the whole NIL thing,” Beard said. “How he would never pay an incoming freshman more than a proven veteran player. That was really big to me. You see all the time that people come in, and it will divide a locker room if you are paying a freshman more. So, really making the players work for what they deserve.”

The reason it hit home for Beard is that his recruitment isn’t driven by money. Obviously, it will play a factor, but it is far from what his decision will ultimately be based on.

“Of course it is a factor to a degree,” Beard said. “But it is definitely not one of my deciding factors. If I had to rank it 1-5, it would probably be 3-4. It is not the most important thing.”

Beard chooses to take a different approach. He’s more concerned with his fit in the scheme, and how quickly he can see the field.

“You want to be able to compete for the job early,” he said. “You want to be gone in three to four years, and you don’t want to sit and redshirt. So you want to try and get in early. And get into an offense where they are going to use you the way that suits you.”

Beard originally didn’t include Clemson among his finalists. However, once he picked up his offer, things changed, and the Tigers, along with Tennessee, Florida and Georgia now stand as his final four.

He will visit Tennessee on March 21 and then hit Florida on April 4. Each of the finalists will get an official, and Beard will then look to make a decision sometime in July.

As things stand now, Clemson is positioned about as well as they could be, and a big part of that is new offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

“I feel like, right now for me, Clemson is definitely in my top two,” Beard said. “Just because of the relationship I have built with Coach Morris over the past couple of months. And seeing the practice, how they use the running backs, and how versatile he is as a play caller. I feel like that is the main part of it and why Clemson is so high for me.”

As a junior, Beard rushed for close to 1,300 yards with 13 touchdowns. He went over 100 yards six times and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. He also reeled in 31 receptions for 450 yards, with five touchdown grabs.

He ranks No. 151 overall and No. 7 among all running backs in the class per the Rivals Industry Rankings.

After seeing Morris in his element during a spring practice over the weekend, Beard has a much greater understanding of Morris’ coaching style.

“He is a real cool coach,” Beard said. “When he is on the field, he is very strategic in what he does. He wants everything done in a certain order. Everybody has to play with tempo around him. He is really competitive. Hates to lose and hates to lose any rep against the defense. That is pretty much Coach Morris in a nutshell.”

While some have believed Clemson didn’t make the running game a point of emphasis over the past few years, Beard wholeheartedly believes that won’t be the case with the new offense.

“I know it is going to change,” Beard said. “Coach Morris is real big on the run. He believes you can’t win without running the ball.”

Beard Official Visit Schedule

• Clemson: May 29-31
• Florida: June 4
• Georgia: June 12
• Tennessee: June 19

Photo courtesy of Dawson Powers