ROCK HILL, S.C. — Seth Tillman started rooting for Clemson when he was in the fourth grade.

So as he became a highly-sought-after high school prospect and the Tigers started recruiting him, Dabo Swinney’s program had an early leg up in the process. However, that fandom did not make Clemson a shoo-in for the four-star in-state defensive tackle out of South Pointe.

Tillman kept an open mind throughout the process and readily admits it was Georgia that led the charge for most of the year. Michigan also made a late push that left an impression, but it was Clemson that got his final official visit the weekend of June 12. It was that visit that convinced Tillman he was home.

“It most definitely did,” Tillman told The Clemson Insider when asked if his fandom helped the Tigers. “But to be honest with you, the majority of the time, it was Georgia. And then Michigan came in. Then when I went to the OV at Clemson, it was just the best OV I went on.”

However, it was earlier in the summer when the tide started to slowly shift. One night Tillman had a dream in which he heard a voice saying “Clemson,” and when he woke up, his subconscious was still speaking to him.

“I had a dream where I committed to Clemson, and it was this big thing,” Tillman added. “Then I woke up — I have an offer graphic in my room — and the only thing I saw was Clemson. I wiped my eyes, and it went back to normal. That kind of told me I was going to Clemson.”

When his South Pointe team opened the season with a 56-0 blowout win over Nation Ford on Friday night, Tillman was sporting a new number. After wearing No. 23 last season when he recorded 61 tackles and 8.5 sacks, the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder is now wearing No. 88. Coincidentally, that is the same number Dabo Swinney wore during his playing days at Alabama, something Tillman found out after the fact.

“I am getting bigger, so I could not fit into 23,” he said. “Then 88, I used to watch Jalen Carter growing up, so I was like, let me try it. In the Carolina Bowl, when I was in fifth grade, I wore 88, and it looked pretty good, so I was like, let’s try it again.”

Unsurprisingly, Swinney was geeked up over the number change.

“He loves me wearing 88,” Tillman added. “I found out he wore 88 on my OV there. When he found out, he was like, “Oh yeah.” I am going to get it when I get there.”

Defensive tackles coach Nick Eason also played a major part in ultimately swaying Tillman. With Tillman’s father passing away after a long illness in July, just before he went public with his commitment, Eason has been a constant presence, and that is something Tillman doesn’t take lightly.

“Coach Eason. He’s been really good. Like another father. And coach Dabo,” Tillman said. “The environment there, every time it has been consistent. They show me something different every day. Growing up, I got a majority of my pass rush moves from Clemson, and my coach right now. But just the environment and the culture.

Rivals ranks Tillman No. 116 overall and No. 11 among all defensive tackles in the 2027 class. He is one of two defensive tackles currently committed to the Tigers, along with fellow in-state three-star talent Jaden Wuerth.