Clemson added a five-star defensive back on Monday night, when Florida-based star Fred Davis made his commitment. The Tigers beat out a long list of major programs when it came to landing Davis’ pledge. Below, the elite cornerback discusses his choice, and Rivals.com has a look at how the news helps Clemson and hurts the teams that missed out.
IN HIS WORDS:
WHY CLEMSON?
“Clemson is a special place. The coaches really care about their players, the fans are great as well as the atmosphere.”
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE VISIT THAT SOLD YOU?
“The visit went great. I got to see a preview of what it’s like at games. Also, I got to chop it up with the coaches to talk ball and the players.”
WHO IS YOUR FIRST RECRUITING TARGET AS A CLEMSON COMMIT?
“Right now, I’m trying to recruit [Demarkcus Bowman] and DJ [Uiagalelei]. I’m not going to speak on it right now, but I think I have a good shot of getting them to come with me. We are a package deal. Hopefully they make that right choice.”
HOW IT HELPS CLEMSON: Explaining why landing a five-star defensive back is positive development seems like a waste of keystrokes, so instead the focus should be on the larger scope of what Clemson is doing on the recruiting trail.
The Tigers have signed a Rivals100 prospect from the state of Florida in each of the last two classes and will likely do so again this year, as Davis might not be the only elite Florida prospect it lands in 2020. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Dabo Swinney has gained Alabama-like pull with prospects in the region, which will serve the program well as it looks to sustain its standing as a national powerhouse. Clemson’s brand has never been stronger in Florida, which is made clear by the commitment of Davis, who once said he’d wait until after his senior season to make a pledge.
HOW IT HURTS THE OTHERS: Davis is the latest five-star to leave Florida. The trend is an alarming one, as 17 of the last 21 five-stars to play high school football in the Sunshine State have elected to go elsewhere for college. Sure, there’s a chance that Davis could have a change of heart before Signing day, but Clemson rarely has prospects back off of their verbal pledges. That’s bad news for Miami, Florida and Florida State, all of which would love to have Davis in the fold. Ohio State is also a loser here, as the five-star cornerback was once a priority target for the Buckeyes.
It’s early in the 2020 cycle, so losing Davis won’t doom anybody’s recruiting class. Still, the larger message the commitment sends about the state of the Florida-based programs is notable. The Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes have work to do when it comes to becoming the most desirable landing spots for truly elite in-state talent. It’s clear the rise of Clemson has had an effect on the state’s recruiting landscape and the allure of the Tigers seems to be getting stronger with each passing year.
