We’re over a week into the month of July and the start of preseason camp is within shouting distance. Unfortunately, real, live college football is still several weeks away.

As the dog days of summer roll on, TheClemsonInsider continues its look back at the recruitment of several of Clemson’s returning players.

LB [autotag]Korie Rogers[/autotag], Buford, Ga. – RS Freshman

Rogers already had offers from East Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Penn State when he was in Clemson for the Dabo Swinney Football Camp in 2012.

Newly-hired defensive coordinator Brent Venables worked him out on the field at linebacker. They also spent time together on a campus tour and look through the facilities.

That fall, Rogers watched Clemson play Auburn in the Georgia Dome, as a visitor for the SEC Tigers. He returned to Clemson in November for the South Carolina game.

Clemson hosted him again in April of 2013, when he was back in town for the Orange and White spring game. Even after the visit, the Tigers had some work to do.

Georgia was running first, ahead of Clemson, Tennessee, Auburn and South Carolina, in order.

During a May visit with his family, Rogers committed to Clemson, much to the surprise of many in the recruiting industry.

“Just Clemson being a great fit for me. All around, the football, the small town, I just feel like it was the place for me to be. It’s where I fit in the most.”

Rogers committed while sitting down with Venables, Dabo Swinney and his area recruiter, Tony Elliott. The four-star linebacker, who was named a U.S. Army All-American, never wavered from his pledge to the Tigers.