Re: Here's the ones to watch for 2018.......

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Here's the ones to watch for 2018.......

Feb 25, 2016, 1:05 PM

Our state is ridiculously loaded in the 2018 class- probably deeper than we've seen in quite some time.

We'll start by talking about DE Xavier Thomas who could be one of the top ends in that class- if not the best. Everybody will be after his services and it wouldn't shock me if the two in state schools are in it for the long haul- as his family backs the gamecocks. He's a man-child who looks like he could play at the college level now. Get this though- he wants to major in engineering in college which is great for us.

After the 2015 FSU game- "I have literally fallen in love with Clemson - just the fans, the coaching staff and the players. As soon as I walked into the stadium, I hear fans telling me, 'Hey X, that hill is waiting for you.' I just love Clemson. This school will not leave my No. 1 on my top schools." Thomas said.

Another DE close to home is Stephon Wynn Jr of Anderson. His father played TE for us so I like our odds. He was at CDS camp last year and is really an impressive looking prospect. Wynn should be ours to lose and we'll gladly take a DE with his skillset.

DE Eli Adams of Rock Hill is also one to keep an eye on as he totaled 18 sacks last season. He was on campus for a game in 2014.

ATH Justin Williams (6-2 185) of Walterboro is relatively unknown by most as of now but his name will likely pop up sooner rather than later.

Another from Rock Hill is CB Derion Kendrick who received an offer from Clemson while at 2015 Dabo Swinney Camp. We're likely to push hard for him as will the gamecocks. CB Christian Tutt of IMG Academy is another who is high on our radar and holds an offer from us.

DL Josh Belk of Richburg is another in state guy who we'd love to have as well. He's a monster at 6-3 300+ lbs and already benches over 350 while squatting over 400. We need to and should land him as he could be the top DL in his class. Elijah Brown of Charlotte, Georgia's Justin Mascoll and Josh Walker are a few others to watch. Mascoll released a Top 4 of Clemson, FSU, Auburn and Georgia. DL Austin Fontaine of Hyattsville, MD has visited here twice already and has an offer.

LB Khalid Jones plays at Greenville's Christ Church and is certainly on our radar. He camped here last summer and received plenty of attention. He's a huge Vic Beastly fan and might be ours to lose. He was a 2nd team freshman all-american. Daniel Highs Jake Venables is another we're probably after and he has plenty of upside but must improve on his coverage skills. Dax Hollifield of NC and Teradja Mitchell of VA are two others to watch, especially Hollifield.

QB Dakereon Joyner is no stranger to Clemson as he's been here many times before. At this point I'd say we lead for him but its still relatively early; however we're likely to be a huge player til the end. I like our chances. Joyner has the potential to play multiple spots on the field such as wide receiver, defensive back and even as a lethal return man. Additionally, we could be in the running for top QB Trevor Lawrence, Emory Jones of Georgia, Alontae Taylor of Tennessee and Ben Batson.

SC also has an elite athlete from Powdersville in EJ Humphrey. At the NUC All-American Game he showed that he's one of the best as he touched the ball six times for an amazing 250 yards and 3 TDs. He also snagged an INT. He has two sisters at scar and one at Bama.

ATH Justin Watkins from Louisiana recently decommitted from LSU and named a top two of Clemson and FSU. He'll be one of the top prospects in the country as Watkins is already making a name for himself at camps against older players.

RayRay McCloud's little brother, Jordan, was on campus for CDS Camp last summer but did not participate due to an injury. We'll know more on him and our chances probably this summer.

At WR, Byrnes High has an interesting prospect in Demarcus Gregory who is already over 6-3. He was on campus for the App State game this year so I like our chances. "He’s probably ‘the next big thing’ out of Byrnes and that’s saying something at his age. Think a possible Sammy Watkins-type playmaker if he keeps progressing the rate he has and his doctors say he may end up in the 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6 range before he’s done growing.” Kerry Fair of SCPrepNation.

Though he's not an in state guy, at RB we'll focus on Zamir White of Laurinburg, NC who is clearly the top back in his class. He could be one of the top overall prospects in that class too. I'd say we're in good running with him but UNC, UGA and Bama could press. Also keep an eye on Devon Lawrence- Dexter's little brother. However in state we have a good one in Mateo Durant from McCormick. He led the nation as a freshman with 1,979 yards and 25 TDs. Speedster Ricky Slade of Virginia could also see some attention from us.

If we land only half of these guys then we'll be in terrific shape in the future. Though I hate to speculate, one could see in-state guys like Thomas, Wynn Jr, Belk, Joyner, Jones and Gregory all wearing orange some day; and what a class that would be.

Here's some film of the aforementioned Justin Williams, whose stock is sure to grow:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4179529/justin-williams

http://www.charlestonchronicle.net/98712/2152/colleton-county%E2%80%99s-defense-sophomore-wide-receiver-justin-williams-shines-in-victory-over-james-island

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