Clemson generally tends to be pretty meticulous when it comes to the recruiting process, especially at the running back position.
The Tigers have always been one of the more selective programs in the country when it comes to offering high school prospects, but at running back, the staff always tends to be a little more selective. Only three offers are out to running backs in the 2026 class, and so far, only one for the 2027 cycle.
Four-star Andrew Beard (Price Avenue Christian, Bogart, GA) is hoping at some point, he becomes one of the small number of running backs Clemson will offer in 2027. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound prospect has visited on multiple occasions, with the last one coming for camp in early June.
Of all the players at the position that worked out that week, Beard was one of the best, and CJ Spiller and Dabo Swinney both took notice.
“I enjoyed getting some time with Coach Spiller, getting a lot of one-on-one time with him,” Beard told The Clemson Insider. “Training, improving on the little things. Getting to talk to Coach Swinney for a little bit. I just enjoyed the whole thing.”
Since coaches could start contacting 2027 recruits directly in June, Beard says he’s been hearing from Spiller on almost a daily basis. Knowing the kind of career Spiller had at Clemson, which resulted in him being a first-round NFL Draft pick, is one thing Beard finds appealing about Swinney’s program.
“Just knowing that your coach has been through the same thing that you want to go through,” Beard said. “He knows the whole draft process, all the interviews. I feel like it is a positive that Coach Spiller is the coach over there.”
While the Tigers have yet to pull the trigger on an offer, Beard says he is already feeling very wanted.
“They definitely made it feel like I was a priority,” Beard added. “They don’t do the whole offer early thing. They have only offered one running back in this class so far, an in-state kid. They said they were going to be keeping an eye on me, and I am pretty much a main priority.”
And for now, knowing that he is a priority is enough for Beard.
“Just knowing Clemson as a program, just knowing that you are a main priority, that should mean a whole lot,” he said. “Just because the offer isn’t there doesn’t mean Clemson is out of the picture or anything like that. It definitely feels special being a priority.”
With the season set to kick off in about a month, Beard is preparing for a busy fall that will see him take several early visits. Big visits.
That schedule starts with a trip to Clemson on August 30 for the Tigers’ huge season opener against LSU. Beard visited for a game last season, a blowout win over Virginia, but this will be his first experience attending a night game in Death Valley.
“Really just the atmosphere, I have heard it gets real crazy,” Beard said. “I got to go last year, but it was a day game, so getting to go to a night game, I feel like it will be a crazy experience.”
Beard already has more than two dozen offers. He ranks No. 147 overall in the Rivals Industry Rankings and No. 11 among all running backs in the class.
Oklahoma, Georgia and Penn State are some of the other schools Beard is hearing a lot from. His uncle is Garrison Hearst, who was a star running back for the Dawgs, and he lives less than half an hour from Athens.
After his Clemson visit, he travels to Norman for Oklahoma’s matchup against Michigan in week two. He also plans to attend Penn State’s White Out game against Oregon in Happy Valley on September 27 and is looking to be in Athens at some point early in the season, too.
Despite those ties to Georgia, this is one Clemson is legitimately in. The Tigers just need to extend the offer.
“It would definitely feel amazing,” Beard said. “Clemson is one of my favorite schools so far that I have been to. Just knowing I had that offer would help me start narrowing down my process.”
Photo courtesy of Dawson Powers