Just a few weeks after finalizing the greatest recruiting class in Clemson history, the Tigers are picking up where they left off early in the 2021 recruiting cycle. While several class of 2020 recruits including Bryan Bresee and DJ Uiagalelei started their third week of college classes, the Tigers added four more recruits to the 2021 class.
Most notably, the Tigers secured a commitment from Korey Foreman, a five-star defensive end out of Corona, CA. At 6’4”, 265 pounds, Foreman is rated as No. 1 recruit in his class by 247 Sports and Rivals. The Tigers continued to add depth to their defensive line with the commitment of Cade Denhoff, a four-star defensive end out of Lakeland, FL. Foreman and Denhoff will contribute to a defensive line that will feature Bresee and fellow class of 2020 five-star talents Myles Murphy and Demonte Capehart. Current players Tyler Davis, KJ Henry, Justin Mascoll and potentially Xavier Thomas will also be in the picture on the defensive line in 2021. As it stands, the Tiger defensive line figures to be perhaps the scariest unit in college football for years to come.
The Tigers also added Beaux Collins, a four-star wide receiver out of Bellflower, CA on Sunday. A former high school teammate of Uiagalelei, Collins is the No. 3-rated receiver in the country. Perhaps the most exciting part of Collins’ commitment is his established connection with Uiagalelei. Collins tallied 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns last season with Uiagalelei as the starting quarterback. Collins will join current players Frank Ladson and Joseph Ngata as well as class of 2020 commits EJ Williams and Ajou Ajou in the receiver position.
Clemson managed to secure a commitment from another pass-catcher in Jake Briningstool, the nation’s No. 2 tight end. The addition of a tight end is interesting for the Tigers as they have not featured a tight-end in their offense since Jordan Leggett went to the NFL in 2016. With the return of current tight-end Braden Galloway from his year-long suspension, the Tigers will likely look to add that wrinkle back into their offense. Briningstool will likely join Galloway in 2021, giving the Tigers two pass-catching weapons at the tight-end position.
Before the commitments of Foreman, Denhoff, Collins and Briningstool this past weekend, the Tigers had five other commitments back in the fall. All rated as four-star talents, offensive tackle Marcus Tate, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr, center Ryan Linthicum, wide receiver Dacari Collins and running back Phil Mafah had already committed to play for the Tigers.
Tate, a 6’4.5” 318 pound tackle will provide the Tigers with much needed depth on the offensive line. With four starters from the 2019 offensive line graduating, and Jackson Carman likely moving on to the NFL after 2020, Clemson needs to restock. Head coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson offensive coaches will likely hope to see Tate develop into a starting-caliber player when he arrives in 2021.
Trotter Jr. is the son of former All-Pro linebacker Jermiah Trotter Sr., who played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Linthicum, a former teammate of Bresee out of Damascus, MD, checks in at 6’5,” 275 pounds. After going up against Bresee in practice throughout his high school career, he will be ready for the level of competition he will face as a Tiger.
Dacari Collins, not to be confused with fellow four-star receiver Beaux Collins, provides the Tigers with yet another weapon at the receiver position. Though Justyn Ross and Amari Rodgers will be gone after the 2020 season, WRU has plenty of reinforcements waiting in the wings.
The first commitment to the Tiger’s 2021 class, Mafah will join what figures to be a crowded running back room in 2021. Headlined by Lyn-J Dixon and the No. 3 running back in the 2020 class, Demarcus Bowman, the Tigers offense will feature an elite running back duo. Behind Dixon and Bowman, Chez Mellusi, Michael Dukes and Kobe Pryor will also be vying for touches.
