Clemson 2010 Recruiting Class
Written by playerpress.com, Thursday April 16 2009
Head Coach Tommy Bowden was fired halfway through the 2008-2009 football season. Dabo Swinney stepped in and right away he instilled energy into the players, as well as Clemson football fans. This year's Clemson’s recruiting class troubles had to do with numerous different reasons.
Considering that stability is a big factor to new recruits, the changeover of coaches during the 2008 season extremely impaired recruiting decisions for Clemson. There were numerous players that revoked their commitments to Clemson after the firing of Bowden. Recruits usually commit to a program where the head coach will benefit them in their best interests. Established head coaches can promise recruits of a chance to play in the NFL if they have past players that have gone on to be successful in the NFL. With Bowden’s departure, Clemson's recruiting class may have been hurt due to the fact that the majority of the coaches are new. Stability is a critical selling point for new recruits to a school, and because of the changes to the coaching staff; Clemson had a deficiency on that point in 2008.
Another point that probably hurt Clemson was that a bowl game loss in a game that they were expected to win, brings doubt and a bad taste in the mouth of the players. The recruits may have been disappointed in Clemson’s bowl game performance. In Addition, Bowl games are seen throughout the country. If Clemson had won the game handily as expected, other possible recruits may have seen the game, and had them thinking of attending Clemson. I hope that future recruits do not put too much of their decision on one particular bowl game. The positive aspect of all of this for the 2010 recruiting class is that Clemson has the complete 2009 season to influence them.
Clemson did not get the best recruiting class in the country. However, they did address some very important issues. With quarterback Cullen Harper, defensive back Michael Hamlin, and running back James Davis all graduating, those positions needed some added depth.
Quarterback Tahj Boyd, the highly acclaimed quarterback from
Running Back Roderick McDowell, from Sumter, South Carolina, will in all probabilities be the third or fourth string running back his first season with the Tigers. He will add depth and could develop into a starter in his junior year.
Defensive back Jonathan Meeks is very fast and will provide good size and strength to defensive secondary for Clemson.
However, two of the most acclaimed prospects of Clemson's class are offensive lineman JK Jay, and defensive end Malliciah Goodman, a real playmaker who was ranked as the 38th best football player in the country and the second ranked defensive end in the country. With the addition of Goodman, along with Ricky Sapp and Daquan "the devourer" Bowers, quarterbacks and offensive lines in the ACC will have a tough go of it against Clemson.
Play maker receiver Bryce McNeal, is the logical choice to replace Aaron Kelly as Clemson's big play wide receiver. Offensive linemen Brandon Thomas and JK Jay will undoubtedly help solidify Clemson's offensive line for the next few years.
Overall, Clemson's recruiting class did not have the amount of players that some fans may have wished for, but the players they did are quality football players.
This recruiting class was not a total disappointment however. Clemson got 11 commitments from quality football players. They stayed with Clemson even with the coaching changes and have enough trust in the future of the program to attend Clemson.
Not that they all will, but I have a good feeling that eventually, a few of these recruits will be playing football on Sundays in the NFL.
Photo Credit: Brian Jenkins / Icon SMI
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A few Facts before the point: Fact: Clemson football brings Clemson University more money than any other program. Fact: Without Clemson football, the University would be relegated back to a small school without enough funding for competitive academic programs. Fact: Clemson football is run as a cash cow for the university, not to build a national title program. Fact: Clemson WILL NEVER win a title with Dabo Swinney. Fact: Clemson will replace Swinney at some point when ticket sales go down. Fact: Clemson will find a jack-legged Conference USA coach to replace Dabo and hype him as the savior of the Tigers. Fact: The new coach will give a "5 year plan" (Much like a trailer park Amway distributor who hasn't actually sold anything themselves) Fact: Clemson recruiting will never bring in enough players to have a consistent ACC Championship team. Well, after reviewing my facts, I noticed that I need not make a point about the football team. Rather, it is the Athletics Director, President, and board that has to make a strong commitment to bring in a real head coach (in the likes of Nick Sabon, etc) and pay them the dollars to do so. They got off on the cheap with Tommy West, then Ken Hatfield (see the pattern?). Then picked THE WRONG BOWDEN, and are getting off on the cheap again while you continue to pay premium seat costs. Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is the following: 1. Mass fan campaign to get a REAL WINNER COACH (One who has actually built and sustained a real school football program) and PAY THEM THE MONEY. 2. Continue to be loud in fan campaign as to make sure Clemson powers hear clearly. 3. Vote with wallet. STOP GOING TO THE DAMNED GAMES. Once they loose their money…they react. LET them know that it is an investment when fans go to games year in and year out being sold the same crap about 5 year plans. 4. Vote with wallet again. STOP BUYING THOSE HATS AND SHIRTS. 5. GET LOUDER STILL and let them know we expect a real program if our tickets cost the same as seeing UGA or Carolina. 6. Again...vote with wallets, call in to every sport show and bitch. 7. Bitch on every blog. 8. If Dabo reads this and gets angry and overcomes his own inadequacies and can over come the powers that be to help build that program...fine...but bitch nonetheless. 9. EXPECT AS A CUSTOMER YOU (THE FAN) ARE THE REASON WHY THE PROGRAM IS THERE IN ITS INCARNATION. EXPECT TRUE CUSTOMER SERVICE. 10. REMIND THE PROGRAM THAT IT DOES SERVE US THE FAN THAT PAYS FOR US. WE GO AWAY..THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO AWAY. IT IS Time to show TERRY DON PHILIPS THAT IT IS WE, THE FANS, THAT WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE THE TRUE FATE OF THAT PROGRAM. As a person born 10 miles from the stadium, raised there and educated at this fine University, I think its time for us (the fans of this University) to show some tough love, raise our expectations, and help them find their way.