Bowling Green (Ky.) 2018 four-star linebacker Justice Dingle has been on Clemson’s radar since he caught the coaching staff’s attention with his performance at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June 2016.
The Clemson Insider checked up on Dingle, who said he has been in contact with Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
“Coach V was the last person I talked to,” he said, “and I plan on reaching back out to him.”
Dingle, a top-250 prospect and top-15 outside linebacker nationally by Rivals, is fond of Clemson after visiting last summer.
“I really enjoyed the experience,” Dingle said. “I like coach (Dabo) Swinney and his style of coaching. Coach Venables has lots of passion and energy. I can see myself playing for him.”
Originally from South Carolina, Dingle played his first two seasons at Oakland High in Murfreesboro, Tenn., before moving to Kentucky prior to his junior year. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder has seen an increase in interest from major programs following a stellar season at Bowling Green High in 2016 that saw him earn Kentucky All-State honors.
Tennessee extended his first offer last May, and offers from Kentucky, Louisville and Virginia are among the handful he has added since.
Louisville, Tennessee and Virginia will get visits from Dingle this offseason, as will several other schools.
“I am going to visit Virginia, Louisville, Florida, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Purdue, UT and LSU,” he said.
Dingle wants to get back to Clemson at some point, and said an offer from the Tigers would be a big deal.
“It would mean a whole lot,” he said. “Most of my family lives in South Carolina, and that’s where I am originally from.”
Dingle said he is hearing the most from Tennessee, Louisville, Purdue, Virginia and Florida, and he is open to all of the schools recruiting him.
What is he looking for in a school?
“Finding the school that is the best fit for me from an academic perspective,” he said, “and that will allow me to continue to grow as an athlete.”
Rivals rates Dingle as the nation’s No. 14 outside linebacker, the No. 240 overall prospect and the No. 3 prospect in Kentucky.