Shelby linebacker Foster commits to Clemson for ‘17 class
commits to Clemson for ‘17 class
Linebacker Justin Foster (6-feet-3-inches, 205 pounds) of Shelby, N.C., announced a commitment to Clemson over Georgia and Tennessee on Monday. Foster revealed his decision during halftime of his high school game. He is the Tigers’ 14th commitment for the 2017 recruiting class.
Clemson was the first school to offer the Shrine Bowl selection in January of his sophomore year, and the Tigers have been a major presence with him ever since. Foster had over 30 offers during his recruiting process, but that early start with Clemson and the ongoing recruiting effort always stood out to him.
“They stuck with me from the beginning,” Foster said after donning a Clemson visor sporting a tiger paw. “They recruited me the hardest. (Clemson head coach) Dabo (Swinney) was a man of his word throughout the recruiting process.”
Foster is considered one of the top LBs in the country for the ‘17 class. As a junior, he had 67 tackles with three quarterback sacks.
Defensive back Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., made an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Louisville game, staying overnight. It was not his first visit to Clemson, but it might have been his best considering the atmosphere for the game and what he learned from the coaches. McKinney was welcomed into the locker room after the game and he also found time to talk with Swinney, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and assistant coach Mike Reed to hear their recruiting pitch again.
“Basically (they said) that they want me and they need me,” McKinney said. “They think I could be a great fit into how they play. They want me to join the people that have already committed in that class.”
Clemson is one of the five finalists for McKinney along with Ohio State, Florida, UGA and Alabama. Despite the big time on the visit, McKinney said the Tigers have not separated from the others. McKinney has also been to Tennessee for a game. He has not yet set the dates for his official visits with his five finalists. He was going to UFlorida for the Lousiana State game until it was postponed. He’s going to Ohio State for the Nebraska game. He only plans official visits to UGA and Alabama.
Defensive end Zovon Lindsay of Fayetteville, N.C., was at the Clemson-Louisville game.
USC
Offensive lineman TJ Moore of Charlotte announced a decommitment from South Carolina on Sunday. Moore, writing on Twitter, said while USC is still one of his top schools, he wants to take some other official visits and then make his decision.
Moore committed to USC on Aug. 1 and was the 20th commitment for the ‘17 class at that time. He committed to USC over Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina State and North Carolina. His decommitment leaves USC with 21 commitments in the class.
Wide receiver Chad Terrell of Dallas, Ga., named USC his favorite ahead of Oregon and NCSU last week. Terrell said USC has a slight lead on the Ducks at this point. And why does USC lead?
“Pretty much everything, the coaches, the players, the atmosphere and the area,” Terrell said. “The school just suits me like my academic side, it just suits me in all those areas.”
Terrell has not yet been to a game at USC this season, but he plans to get to one as soon as he can. He did take an official visit to Oregon in September. He doesn’t feel the need to take any more visits to move forward with his decision.
“I’m like at the very end so there’s no telling when I could make the decision,” he said. “I just have a few little things that I’m thinking about. Whenever I feel like I’m ready I’m just going to give a week’s notice before I announce it.”
USC defensive lineman target Romello Martin of Brooklyn, N.Y., will not take any of his official visits during the season because of his own game schedule, which includes Saturdays. When he gets around to scheduling those visits USC is a lock for one. The other schools on his short list are UF, Tennessee, Miami, Mississippi and Rutgers. He does not have a favorite.
WR Shawn Smith of Brunswick, Ga., decommitted from USC last week, but not because he wanted to do so.
“He committed and cut everybody else off,” said Smith’s head coach, Larry Harold. “Now this kid has to start the recruiting process all over again. We honored his commitment and cut everybody else that was recruiting him off. I’m just really sour right now because when it comes to my kids, they come first.
“I understand the numbers. I think two of the guys were from the state (of South Carolina) and they felt like they were first priority and I understand that, but give the kid, give me a call and let us know early on instead of waiting until October. He graduates in December and now we’re going to have to scramble to try to find another school for him to go to. He’s a great kid and he did what he was supposed to do. When he committed he literally shut everybody else off. And now he’s stuck holding the bag. My heart goes for him.”
DE Matthew Butler of Garner, N.C., made another visit to USC for the Texas A&M game. It was an unofficial visit, but Butler used the visit to gather more intel on the school and the program, to the point where he doesn’t necessarily fill the need to return for an official visit. He has taken official visits to Duke and Penn State and is scheduled to visit NCSU officially on Nov. 5. He might take an official visit to Tennessee for the Alabama game.
OL Bailey Presnell of Gray, Tenn., was at USC for the Texas A&M game and plans to return for the Tennessee game.
USC offered ‘19 running back Syheam McQueen of Laurinburg, N.C. He also has an offer from NCSU and has drawn interest from Clemson, UGA, Miami, Tennessee and UNC.
CLEMSON AND USC
DB Tank Robinson of Lake Marion High School in Santee was at USC’s game with East Carolina, and he also attended Clemson’s game with Louisville. Robinson said coaches from both schools continue to recruit him and both schools still want him as a safety. Robinson said he he’s looking to return to USC for the Tennessee game later in the season and he also plans to get to games at NCSU, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. He said Notre Dame has been on him strongly of late and wants him to visit. He’s working on an official visit with ND. He’s undecided on other official visits. Robinson said he does not have a favorite at this point.
DL Josh Belk of Lewisville High is one of the top prospects in the state for his class with offers from Clemson, USC, Ohio State, UNC, LSU, NCSU, VT, Auburn and others. He was at Clemson for the Louisville game. “I want to know more about their program and they said after the season would be better when I can get more one-on-one time,” Belk said.
Belk also has visited USC and has it high up on his list as well at this point. Belk lists Clemson, USC and Ohio State as his top three, but not in any order. He plans to visit each next year for official visits.
WR Jordyn Adams of Blythewood High was offered by Tulane, and Wake Forest offered ‘18 DB Israel Mukamu of Berkeley High in Moncks Corner.
LB Dax Hollifield of Shelby, N.C., has taken multiple visits to USC and said he hears “a ton” from USC. He has offers from USC, Clemson, VT, UNC, Duke and Kentucky.
DB Myles Sims of Atlanta has Clemson and USC offers and he was at Clemson for the Louisville game.
OTHERS
Indiana offered athlete Tancey Richardson of South Aiken High. Richardson is still talking with USC and plans to get to a game this season. He plans to take official visits to Colorado State and Arizona State.
LB Kyle Wright of Ben Lippen School in Columbia was at Clemson for the Louisville game, and the recruiting interest in him is beginning to rise. Wright has an offer from ECU. He’s also drawing interest from USC, ND, California, VT, Virginia, Florida Atlantic, Old Dominion, UK, Northwestern, NCSU and others. He will visit ND today.
Tight end Davin Dyal of Cookeville, Tenn., was at USC for the A&M game. Dyal has not been offered, but he’s also drawing interest from Vanderbilt, Memphis, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech.
Basketball
Kansas was in to visit with ‘18 shooting guard Zion Williamson of Spartanburg Day last week. Williamson was at Clemson for the Louisville game.
Irmo native Devontae Shuler, a 6-3 G now in his second year at Oak Hill Prep in Virginia, announced on Monday he will sign with Ole Miss next month.
Shuler chose the Rebels over USC and Oklahoma State, the other two schools he visited officially. Miami and Southern California also were in his top five.