On June 15, coaches were allowed to start contacting players in the 2027 recruiting class directly, and beginning on that date, Clemson has been showing offensive lineman Jayden Dean some love.
The four-star talent, out of St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) has yet to speak directly with offensive line coach Matt Luke, but has spoken with members of the support staff.
“They want to get me on campus,” Dean told The Clemson Insider. “So they can see me a little bit.
Dean has never visited Clemson, but he is looking to change that this fall.
“We are going to a game,” Dean said. “Coach sent me the schedule. I am going to try and make to one of the home games for sure.”
While Dean isn’t overly familiar with the Clemson program, he does have a friend who is. Canon Pickett, a three-star offensive lineman in the 2026 class, is a former target of the Tigers and visited campus multiple times before committing to Miami in early June.
“My guy, Canon Pickett told me about Clemson and how they run the show over there,” Dean said. “He said he liked it a lot. He told me to get on campus so I can see how great it is. I have heard the way they run their offensive line room is structured. It is organized and everything is done quick, fast and physical.”
Rivals ranks Dean No. 140 overall and No. 5 among all interior linemen.
Auburn, Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are just a few of his offers. Florida and Florida State have both offered and Dean says those two, along with Oregon and West Virginia are some of the schools that he is currently hearing the most from.
He has already visited Oregon and he is at Florida this weekend. Dean said on top of wanting to get to Clemson in the fall, he is also hoping to get back to Oregon and make it to Florida State, as well as Tennessee.
“I really want to see how they develop their offensive line,” Dean said. “How they teach them. Can they develop them and get them ready for the real world. And can they rotate versatile offensive linemen.”
While he is still very early in the process, one characteristic Dean is looking for in a school is the ability to win at a high level.
“Winning a natty, for sure.”