Behind the Commitment: Jordan Hancock to Clemson
A few weeks ago, it looked like Ohio State had a very good chance at landing four-star defensive back Jordan Hancock. The Buckeyes were trending, another visit to Columbus was set for the end of March, but after a few hours at Clemson, things quickly changed.
Before the end of the visit Saturday, the 6-foot-1, 165 pounder out of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett knew he wanted to be a Tiger.
Hancock slept on that feeling, then Sunday morning, he woke up, called Dabo Swinney and gave him the news.
Clemson beat out Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State, and Hancock takes you through his decision.
THE BEGINNING
“I have 46 offers, and Clemson started recruiting me around October last year. Coach Mickey Conn came around around that time, and that is when I started hearing from Clemson.
“I had a lot of my offers before Clemson offered. They did not offer me until January, so they were kind of on the back-end of when schools were offering me. Clemson recruits different, they don’t offer a lot of guys, so the timing did not bother me.
“I really started liking and following Clemson years ago. I have been watching them, I have followed their dynasty, and starting my freshman year, I really took notice of who they are and watching them more.
“I got the vibe that Clemson was close to offering when coach Conn came to see us play Lowndes late in the season. It is an offer I really wanted because I had thought about going there.
“My first visit to Clemson was when they played Louisville my sophomore year, so they have been on my radar longer than I have been on their’s. When I got the offer, I knew it could be the school for me.”
THE TURN
“I was liking Ohio State the most for a while. Clemson became a true contender for me as soon as they offered, but Ohio State was my top school. Ohio State has been my No. 1 school for a little while now.
“The offer was a dream offer, but talking to the coaches at Clemson more, then the visit Saturday really changed things for me. About halfway through the visit Saturday is when I started feeling that Clemson could be the school for me. They really took over the lead Saturday.
“I was at their scrimmage and I really started to feel it. The overall visit triggered this feeling for me and told me Clemson is where I need to be.
“So, it was during the visit that Clemson beat out Ohio State for my top school.”
THE FINALE
“Coach Dabo Swinney is a family man, and he cares about his players. He is a man of his word and I really like that. When I was meeting with coach Swinney at the end of the visit, I knew I was going to commit to Clemson.
“I had no intentions of making a decision this week or this soon, but the visit and feeling I had at Clemson changed that.
“I feel coach Swinney and Clemson can help me take that extra step with God, they can help me become a better player and Clemson can help me take that next step in my game too.
“It is only an hour and 30 minutes away from home, so I like that too.
“I slept on that feeling Saturday night, then called coach Swinney to give him the news Sunday. Coach Swinney was happy, and coach Reed, coach Venables and coach Reed were all excited about my commitment.”