Santana Harvey is jacked up for Clemson’s big official visit weekend.
The four-star defensive end, out of Lakeland (FL), will be making his fourth trip to campus. He last visited for the Elite Retreat back in March. He was also on hand for the season-opener against LSU last season.
However, this visit will be a little more important. It will be his last before making a decision, which he plans to do at some point in July.
“I just want to officially see everything and see how things run at Clemson,” Harvey told The Clemson Insider. “Just how they see me in their program. Dive deep into everything with my development, the plan they have for me. Also just the festivities and just have a great weekend.”
During the course of his recruitment, Harvey has developed a strong bond with both defensive ends coach Chris Rumph and defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
“I talk to those guys a lot,” Harvey said. “Coach Allen is a great guy. I feel like he is a great coach. A great man and developer. He’s just been shooting me messages, like motivational messages. Just picking where my brain is. Keeping me up and motivated. Just checking in on me and my family. He does not sugarcoat anything. He keeps it 100 with you.”
Notre Dame, Florida State and Georgia Tech are also scheduled to get officials. Harvey says Colorado could get added to the slate. Although, to this point, it is the Tigers that are setting the pace.
“Clemson, they are leading as of right now,” Harvey added. “Every time I come to Clemson I just feel like family. Just the rich history of development at my position and just on the D-line. Just the rich defensive history. And I understand that if I come to Clemson, I have big shoes to fill at the defensive end spot, but I am up to the task. I just want to continue and possibly carry on a legacy at Clemson. That would not be a bad place to do that.”
Harvey now has close to three dozen offers in total. He finished his junior campaign with 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two passes broken up and one fumble recovery. 247 ranks him No. 132 overall and No. 15 among all edge rushers in the class.
As he goes into this final round of visits, there are several things he will be looking for.
“First, development. Second would be a rich history of developing the position,” Harvey said. “Because you can go to a big program but does it have a rich history of developing guys at the position. Have they shown the history of being able to do that? Another factor is the guys in the building. Honestly, I feel like you can have the best facilities in the world, every college football program has top-notch facilities, but it does not matter about that. It matters about the guys in the facility, and I feel like that is another thing that separates Clemson. The guys that are in the building. I truly feel like it there is something special up there that separates them from a lot of programs I have seen.
“Another factor is education. I want to get a world-class education, and I feel like Clemson is one of those schools where I can get that. And also, where I can get that NFL-ready coaching that can prepare me and get me to the NFL. I want to be coached hard in college. I have told Coach Rumph that, I have told Coach Allen that, I have told a bunch of coaches that. I told them not to be afraid to coach me hard. Coach me as hard as possible. That makes me the best version of myself.”
Harvey has also taken notice of how hot the Tigers have been on the recruiting trail of late. Clemson has picked up six commitments since the beginning of last week and with the big official weekend starting on Friday, that momentum is coming at just the right time.
“I also see Clemson’s trajectory,” Harvey said. “I have been seeing a lot of the guys who have been committing. They are hot right now, going into the right time. To get hot before the big weekend, which I can not wait for, is a good sign. I feel like Clemson could possibly get back to those natty ways very soon. That trajectory is going up.”
Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider