Dax Hollifield picked up where he left off as a freshman in Shelby High School’s run to a second-straight North Carolina 2A state championship.

The four-star prospect had 16 tackles with four assists, half-a-sack and a blocked kick last week in Shelby’s season-opening win over Freedom High School.

As a freshman in 2014, Hollifield had 112 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Clemson and the four instate schools from the ACC have offered Hollifield. Of the five, Clemson was the only one to score a visit this summer. In June, Hollifield visited with his dad and brother for the Dabo Swinney Football Camp.

Brent Venables worked with Hollifield during his one-day camp stop.

“I thought it was great. I like how he coaches. He reminds me of my dad. He gets really into it and he’s a good coach, though I don’t know how to explain it,” Hollifield said. “He yells at his kids. That’s how my dad is with me. I know he likes him, but he makes them work hard. That’s how I like my coach to be. I like him a lot. He’s a nice guy.”

Hollifield took back one significant piece of coaching from the Clemson defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

“He doesn’t like your hands being on your knees…that’s what I’ve been trying to do every practice this August. I’ve been trying to work on, not trying to put my hands on my knees,” Hollifield said. That’s one thing he was telling me not to do. It makes you look like you’re tired or weak. That’s what he said.”

Obligations to the Shelby High team and AAU basketball occupied most of his time this summer.

“That’s where I wanted to go, because I hadn’t been to Clemson since Junior Day, so I just wanted to go and talk to them,” Hollifield said.

This fall, he’s planning to return for the Florida State and Notre Dame games. Hollifield is also eyeing Tennessee for the Oklahoma game and a trip to Virginia Tech for the season-opener against Ohio State.

“I’m going to try to go to a different school every week, if possible. That’s what I want to do,” Hollifield said.