Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen and the Tigers have “high expectations” for true freshman defensive back Polo Anderson.

During spring practice, Allen named Anderson — a former four-star and top-150 national prospect – as one freshman who stood out in spring ball. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney also praised Anderson in the spring, saying the safety from nearby Dorman High School “catches your eye every day” and that the Tigers “got us a good one.”

At Clemson’s media outing Tuesday, Allen continued to speak highly of Anderson, who signed with the Tigers last December before enrolling early in January.

“He’s a guy we have high expectations for,” Allen said. “He came in here highly regarded out of high school, but obviously, college is different. But man, he did not disappoint this spring. He did a great job for us. Obviously got a chance to play in the spring game, and now has had a whole summer.”

After impressing during his first taste of spring ball with Clemson, Anderson is now getting ready to go through his first fall camp with the Tigers in preparation for his debut college football campaign.

Allen expects a lot of Anderson in fall camp, noting that midyear enrollees like him have a “massive advantage” when it comes to repeatedly learning the defense over the course of the offseason.

“To me, we talk about there’s three different installs for our defense in the offseason,” Allen said. “The first one is spring ball, the second one is over the summer, and then the third one would be here in fall camp. So, this is the third time he’s had a chance to go over it and learn it. So, when you come in here in the midyear, it’s a massive advantage for a high school player, rather than just coming over the summer. He’s one of those guys, so I expect him to have a great fall camp.”

Anderson, listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, appears to be physically ready to play right away. The rookie just has to show he’s mentally ready to take the field for the Tigers right off the bat.

“The mental part of it, that will manifest itself throughout fall camp, so he’ll have every opportunity to prove that he is ready to play. That’s on him, and he knows that,” Allen said. “But I do believe he’s put the work in. The proof is revealed when we get into practice settings and we create those game moments for him to be able to react when the offense is going fast and it’s live and we’re doing things and they’ve got to make checks and adjustments. That’s when you know that a player has mastered the defense and can make those checks and adjustments. Because that back end guy, those safeties, they have to be able to communicate. So, that’s why there’s a lot on those young guys, but at the same time, we think he’s going to be well prepared and in position to help us.”

A two-time all-state and three-time all-region pick, Anderson was credited with 265 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, five pass breakups and four interceptions during his prep career. He also blocked four career kicks and scored three career touchdowns, including one on a 58-yard pick-six against Blythewood in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs as a senior.

Anderson recorded a career-high 95 tackles (eight for loss), three forced fumbles, two sacks, a pick-six and a fumble recovery as a senior en route to being recognized as Region 2-AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year and being named as one of five finalists for Mr. Football in South Carolina.

With his high upside and playmaking ability, Anderson flashed some of his potential during Clemson’s spring game in March, and he might be hard to keep off the field as a freshman.

“That’s on him. He has to produce. He has to earn the right to get reps on gameday,” Allen said. “But because of what he’s done in the spring and the work he’s put in this summer, I expect him to be a guy that’s in that rotation. … Polo is going to be one of those guys battling and fighting to get to play.”