Austan Cristiaan is still just a freshman in high school, but several college programs across the country are already showing serious interest in the up-and-coming quarterback.

Cristiaan (Bishop Verot, Fort Myers, FL) is in the midst of a busy spring schedule that included a stop in Clemson for the spring game on April 5. It was the 2028 quarterback’s fourth time visiting. He was at last year’s spring game, camped at Clemson last summer, and then returned for a game last fall.

However, this last visit was different for Cristiaan. On this one, he really felt the love.

“You could really tell how much effort they’re putting into looking ahead for their recruits,” Cristiaan told The Clemson Insider. “And how much they care and personalize each visit to each kid that they have.”

In fact, his visit to Clemson set the bar for every other visit he plans to take.

“I think this is the best visit I’ve ever been on. And I’m not even overexaggerating when I say that,” Cristiaan also said. “They just rolled out the red carpet. When you walk in, there’s like 30 coaches outside the front door shaking your hand saying, ‘Oh, what’s up, Austan.’ Then you have your personal guy go through and do the whole tour with you, eat lunch with you. They just make it super personal. Personalized and specific to you and what type of player you are. They really make it feel like home. That’s the biggest thing for me.”

While the culture Dabo Swinney has created inside of the program really resonated, that’s not the only thing Cristiaan finds intriguing. He firmly believes he’d be a great fit for Riley’s scheme. The 6-foot-2 signal caller believes his skillset is similar to that of current quarterback Cade Klubnik. He also sees some similarities when watching 2026 quarterback commit Brock Bradley.

Cristiaan and Bradley have actually developed a bond off the field after meeting at a Reeses Camp in February. Bradley was also on hand for the spring game, giving the two a chance to catch up.

“That’s my main thing on why Clemson’s really a top school for me,” Cristiaan added. “Because Cade Klubnik and Brock Bradley, who I’m super close with, I feel like I have a similar play style with both of them. Personality-wise, I feel like I fit into the way that Clemson is, their town, and their coaching staff. I’m really close with their coaching staff, with Coach Riley, Coach (Tajh) Boyd, and Coach Swinney. I just think it’s a great fit for me.”

Cristiaan already has a handful of offers, but he recently picked up his biggest when Arkansas offered in January. As he continues to develop, that list will almost certainly start to grow.

For now, he’s focused on his busy spring schedule, which includes several stops, and learning what he can about each of the programs. Florida and Florida State already received spring visits. He also plans to hit Arkansas and Auburn before the spring ends. On Thursday, he will be at Georgia Tech and Georgia State. FIU, which has also offered, and Jacksonville State, two schools closer to home, will also get visits. App State has offered as well.

Clemson won’t even start offering players in Cristiaan’s class until next summer, and that offer is the one the young quarterback really wants to earn.

“That is the one I want to work so hard for. That is the offer that I would really love to have,” Cristiaan said. “Having a Clemson offer, that caliber of an offer, it’s just that much more pristine. The amount of offers they do is a lot less than other schools, so it’s just that much tougher to get.”

Cristiaan is more than willing to put in the work to achieve that goal. The next step in that process happens this summer when he returns to Clemson to work out at camp once again, and he can’t wait to show the coaches how much growth he’s experienced.

“It’s a lot different over there, but it is working,” Cristiaan said. “It makes sense with the type of program they have.”