Commits, targets, future prospects set to compete at Charlotte Opening Regional

The Opening Regional tour continues in Charlotte tomorrow, and the camp will be loaded with talent. A number of Clemson targets, commitments and future prospects in the 2019 and 2020 classes are listed on the event’s roster.

The headlining participant is the nation’s No. 1 overall player, Cartersville (Ga.) five-star quarterback and Clemson commit Trevor Lawrence. Expect him to nab an invite to the Elite 11 quarterback competition, which will take place this summer at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

Lawrence will be joined by a few of his fellow 2018 commits, in Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe four-star wide receiver Derion Kendrick, Central (S.C.) Daniel four-star linebacker Jake Venables and Seneca (S.C.) tight end Braden Galloway.

Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth five-star defensive end K.J. Henry and Cary (N.C.) Green Hope four-star wide receiver Jordyn Adams, two of Clemson’s 2018 priority targets, will be on hand.

Henry most recently visited Clemson in March before listing the Tigers among his top 10 schools in April. Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Virginia Tech are thought to be the leading contenders for the top-five defensive end nationally, who plans to make a decision after his senior season prior to January enrollment.

Adams, meanwhile, named Clemson one of his top five schools in late April along with Alabama, LSU, North Carolina and Ohio State. Adams last visited Clemson for its junior day in January. He was paid a visit from Clemson receivers coach Jeff Scott last Friday, the day after Mike Williams was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. Adams is likely to render his decision this summer.

One of Clemson’s receiver targets, Gaffney (S.C.) three-star Dennis Smith, is expected to compete. Smith picked up an offer from the Tigers during his junior day visit to the school on March 4. Florida State offered Smith in April, joining Clemson, Duke, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia Tech among others on his offer sheet. He wants to commit before his senior season.

Sanford (N.C.) Lee County’s Jahmir Smith, a 2018 running back offer candidate that Clemson plans to evaluate this spring, will be present. Smith carries over two dozen offers, including ones from Cal, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Wisconsin. He attended the Orange & White spring game on April 8.

An offensive lineman on Clemson’s board, Charlotte (N.C.) Harding 2018 guard Jovaughn Gwyn, will be at the camp. His offer sheet includes Duke, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia. He visited Clemson for its junior day on March 4 and came back to take in one of the Tigers’ spring practices later that month.

Several top 2019 recruits with offers from Clemson are expected at The Opening, as well, in Cornelius (N.C.) Hough cornerback Tyus Fields, Stafford (Va.) North Stafford running back Devyn Ford, Brunswick (Ga.) offensive tackle Warren McClendon and Loganville (Ga.) Grayson linebacker Owen Pappoe.

They will be among a lengthy list of other 2019 prospects on Clemson’s radar.

That includes a handful that have visited Clemson in the past couple of months: Sanford (N.C.) Lee County defensive end Desmond Evans, Cornelius (N.C.) Hough wide receiver Nolan Groulx, Daleville (Va.) Lord Botetourt offensive guard Jesse Hanson, Clayton (N.C.) defensive end Savion Jackson, Wake Forest (N.C.) defensive tackle Jadacus Logan and Forest City (N.C.) East Rutherford running back Demetrius Mauney.

Evans, Hanson, Logan and Mauney all attended Clemson’s spring game. Groulx attended Clemson’s junior day in March, while Jackson visited for a spring practice in late March.

Other participating names to know in the 2019 class are Charlotte (N.C.) Charlotte Christian safety Jeremiah Gray, the son of former NFL safety Derwin Gray; Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian defensive tackle Zovon Lindsay; and North Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester offensive guard Kameron McCray. All three saw games at Clemson last fall.

A couple of 2020 teammates attracting early interest from the Tigers are slated to be at the camp, too.

Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day wide receiver Porter Rooks, the brother of former Clemson basketball player Patrick Rooks, added an offer from Miami this week to go along with ones from Alabama, Auburn, Louisville, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Rooks was accompanied by defensive end Jacolbe Cowan to Clemson’s junior day on March 4. Cowan’s recruitment has exploded since late March as he has received offers from Georgia, Iowa State, Maryland, Louisville, N.C. State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Wisconsin.

The Clemson Insider will be in Charlotte tomorrow, so stay tuned for updates from the camp.