Malik Herring is listed by Rivals as one of the top 100 prospects in the class of 2017.

Ranked as the No. 74 overall prospect in the country, he’s also listed as the third-best strong-side defensive end.

Herring is highly-coveted by Clemson defensive ends coach Marion Hobby. The two spent plenty of time with one another over the weekend while Herring was in Clemson for Saturday’s Junior Day.

“(Hobby) was telling me it was a great time as a defensive end for Clemson and playing early, that’s what he was basically saying — I have a good chance of playing early, if I come in and work hard,” Herring said.

The four-star defensive end from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Ga. was joined by his mom and stepdad.

“It was fun. I really enjoyed myself with the staff,” Herring said.

The love Hobby’s shown has yielded positive results for the Tigers.

“That means a lot. Coach Hobby is really what makes Clemson one of my top (schools),” Herring said.

He also likes the “family tradition” at Clemson.

“They’re all about family. That’s all they really talk about is family,” Herring said.

On Saturday, he was impressed by the Thomas Green Clemson statue, among other things.

“It’s the man who founded Clemson — that statue really stood out to me, and how the campus is shaped, that really stood out,” Herring said. “The library is in the middle. It’s like a bullseye. The library is the center of it, then you have the academics and the housing.”

As a junior, Herring had 54 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

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