Clemson continues to stay in frequent contact with this standout offensive lineman from the Sunshine State.

The Clemson Insider caught up with Gavin Blanchard of Jesuit High School (Tampa, Fla.) to get the latest on his recruitment and where things stand with the Tigers.

The class of 2025 prospect named Clemson among the schools showing the most love to him at this point in his recruiting process.

“Things have been going good. Things are starting to pick up,” Blanchard, a four-star prospect per ESPN, said of his recruitment in general. “Some big, big schools are starting to call now, so that’s pretty good, and I’m just blessed.”

“Me and the Missouri O-line coach (Brandon Jones), we talk about every day. He just wants to meet me in person, and after that, I think he’ll pull the trigger (on an offer),” Blanchard added. “Same with Ole Miss. But me and Clemson, we still talk every day. That’s going good, and then there’s a few more. Georgia Tech just offered me… So, it’s going pretty good.”

As for Clemson, Blanchard said he and head coach Dabo Swinney try to keep in touch about twice a month.

Offensive line coach Matt Luke is the Clemson coach that Blanchard is in contact with the most, as the two communicate on a daily basis, according to Blanchard.

“He’s a great man. That’s one thing I noticed from the first time I met him,” Blanchard said. “He’s a great man and he’s very enthusiastic. So, he’s a great man.”

Blanchard feels wanted by the Tigers, but said they are “just waiting on some things” before potentially pulling the trigger on an offer.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound rising senior owns a double-digit offer list that includes schools such as Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Purdue, TCU and UCF.

How would an offer from Clemson impact his recruitment?

“Clemson’s always been up there. It just feels a little different up there. So, it would mean a lot just because that’s an offer that I know I’d worked for,” he said. “Like, some schools, they just give out offers. But if I get the Clemson offer, that means that I earned it. So, that would mean a lot, and it would just be one at the top of my list.”

Blanchard has been to Clemson multiple times in the past, most recently for the Tigers’ elite junior day in January. He also visited Death Valley for a couple of games last season and has participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp as well.

Asked what stands out most to him about his trips to Tiger Town, Blanchard pointed to the people there.

“Just the people, really. Like, everyone there is so happy,” he said. “You can feel the energy there, and that’s something I love about it.”

Blanchard expects to return to Clemson at least one more time before he renders a commitment decision, and he’s planning to make that commitment this summer.

“I kind of want (to commit) by the end of summer,” he said. “I’ll get my OVs set up during spring. We’ll try to do that early summer so that way I can have my middle summer to make my decision, and then I’ll announce it during the summer.”

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