Clemson is being diligent when it comes to deciding on its top running back targets in the 2028 recruiting class.

More than a month after Dabo Swinney’s high school camp, the Tigers have yet to extend an offer to a back.

After having attended the camp the past two summers, three-star in-state running back Michael Martin II (Christ Church) chose not to camp at Clemson last month. After having visited for every home game last season, then four more times in the spring, and with him already having plenty of camp work on film, Martin decided against working out this summer after talking it over with running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

“I already worked out at camp twice. Freshman year and last year, my sophomore year,” Martin told The Clemson Insider. “So, it would not have made a really big difference to go to camp this year. Talking with Coach Spiller, it would not have made a big difference either way, if I came to camp this year or not. Not really worth it for me going this year because he has already seen me work out twice. And he’s seen my film and everything.”

At the same time, Martin and Spiller are in touch with one another multiple times per week.

“Pretty frequently, probably three or four times a week,” Martin said. “He sends me graphics and stuff. I ask him how he’s doing, he asks me how me and my family are doing. So it is pretty often, really.”

When it comes to an offer, the message to Martin has been patience, and that the process at Clemson is different. Although having been around the program so frequently, the young running back is already fairly familiar with the process.

“(Spiller) says Clemson is like a long-paced type of game with the offers and everything,” Martin added. “I am just going to keep talking to Coach Spiller every week because this is a long process.”

Martin rushed for more than 1,400 yards as a sophomore, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and scoring 30 touchdowns, while earning 3A all-state honors. Prep Red Zone ranks him as the top in-state back in his class.

Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Duke, Cincinnati, Syracuse and East Carolina are some of the other schools Martin is hearing from regularly since schools could start contacting him directly on June 15. All of those schools have already offered, with the Orange representing his very first one last year.

But it’s the offer from Clemson that the 5-foot-9, 195-pound back is chasing, and he’s got every intention of putting in the necessary work.

“That would mean a lot to me,” Martin said. “Because the past year, two years, just working hard. I love Clemson as a school and the environment there also. That would definitely mean a lot for sure.”

Martin said he could see himself making a decision as early as later this year. Whenever that time does come, expect the relationships to play a prominent role, and the money aspect being much lower on his list of priorities.

“It is not really as important to me,” Martin said. “The main goal is going to a college that fits me as a person and has great football. Money is going to come so it is not really the main priority for me. For me, it is about the best relationship with the coach and that is really my deciding factor on where I want to go.”