One of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 recruiting class returned to Clemson for the spring game.

Four-star Trace Hawkins (Calhoun, GA) made his second visit to campus on Saturday. Due to the annual Orange and White game being held, Hawkins didn’t get a ton of time with offensive coordinator Chad Morris and Tajh Boyd, but he got enough.

Hawkins also got his first tour of the campus, which was something else that stood out.

“The game was good obviously,” Hawkins told The Clemson Insider. “Got to see a quarterback battle in person. Got to hear the coaches talk about it. Having that good connection with Coach Boyd and Coach Morris, getting to sit down and talk with them. Seeing campus and the facility for the first time was also awesome.”

Hawkins first visit to Clemson came last season for the Duke game.

This visit afforded him his first opportunity to meet Morris in person, after having had several telephone conversations with him over the past few months.

“I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him because of the game and all,” Hawkins said. “After the game and a little bit before the game, we got to chat it up a little.”

The staff told the 6-foot-1, 195-pound signal caller he was one of the top quarterbacks on their board.

“They said I am at the top of their board, but obviously they won’t start offering until the summer,” Hawkins added. “They asked me to come to camp and throw, and it will go on from there.”

Clemson won’t even start handing out offers to players in the 2028 class until June, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t already been recruiting Hawkins hard. He plans to work out at Dabo Swinney’s high school in June in an effort to earn one of those opening offers.

“They don’t really jump on you early, but they try and communicate with you a lot leading up the the summer before (junior season),” Hawkins said. “They make great relationships before the really offer you.”

Outside of the spring game stop in the Upstate, Tennessee has also gotten a visit. Florida and Florida State are still scheduled to get spring visits. Hawkins will be back at Clemson on April 11 for the Underclass Experience. After that, he heads to Duke.

This upcoming visit on the 11th, which will be his second to Clemson in a two-week period, will be a big one. With the coaches having no game to prep for, this will allow Hawkins to do a deep dive into the program.

“There is no game, so we will be able to actually sit down and have a long, good conversation with the coaches,” Hawkins said. “We’ll be able to speak with them all day and see what it’s all about.”

As a sophomore last season, Hawkins threw for 2,442 yards with 24 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He also had three rushing touchdowns.

Rivals ranks him No. 139 overall and No. 11 among all quarterbacks in the 2028 class. Auburn, Duke, Indiana, Florida, Georgia Tech and SMU are some of the schools that have already offered.

By the time the summer ends, he’s hoping to have added one from the Tigers.

“It would be good,” Hawkins said. “We’ve had a couple of Calhoun players to come through Clemson and made a big impact. Davis Allen and Bannon and Braylon Spector. But it would be awesome. I have always liked Clemson football.”