Top remaining recruiting battles
By: hale-mcgranahan December 24, 2015

Whether it’s through long-standing commitments or signatures on financial aid agrements, a majority of Clemson’s 2016 signing class is already in place.

Only a handful of targets are still out there for the upcoming haul. With just a week left before the end of the calendar year, TCI takes a look at some of the top prospects still left on Clemson’s board and the schools they’re battling for their respective signatures.

CB Trayvon Mullen – Coconut Creek, Fla.

Since he emerged on the scene, Mullen has consistently mentioned Clemson among his favorite schools. Brent Venables and Mike Reed made a trip down to Broward County earlier this month to see the four-star. Mullen will return the favor next month and make his second trip to Clemson for the big official visit weekend. Florida State, Louisville and TCU have already had him on campus for official visits. After the Clemson stop, he’ll head to LSU. A decision is expected on Signing Day.

WR Diondre Overton – Greensboro, N.C.

Overton has been the final wide receiver target on Clemson’s board since T.J. Chase and Cornell Powell made their commitments earlier this year. Just before he arrived to Spartanburg for the Shrine Bowl, Overton eliminated UNC, Tennessee and Nebraska from contention, leaving Clemson and NC State as his finalists. A decision will be announced on Sunday, Jan. 3 at the Semper Fidelis Bowl.

OL John Simpson – North Charleston

Many have considered Clemson as the team to beat for the four-star, but LSU and Florida are also receiving serious consideration. South Carolina is still a factor since Shawn Elliott has been retained by the new regime. Aside from his fall trip to LSU, no other official visits have been scheduled for Simpson, who was intended to announce at the U.S. Army game. Those plans have since been nixed, and the decision could be drawn out until Signing Day.

LB Shaq Smith – Baltimore, Md.

Smith will announce his decision on Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Under Armour game. Clemson, which received the last official visit, is a finalist along with LSU and Auburn. The five-star linebacker eliminated Maryland from contention because of the change in coaching staff in College Park. After his announcement, Smith will have a quick turnaround, because he’s a mid-year enrollee.