After becoming one of the first members of Clemson’s 2017 class when he committed in August 2015, Hightstown (N.J.) Peddie School three-star offensive tackle Noah DeHond is now a little more than two weeks away from officially becoming a Tiger on Feb. 1’s National Signing Day.
DeHond and Clemson’s eight other committed non-early enrollees made their official visits to Clemson over the weekend as they prepare to join the program and enroll next June.
The Clemson Insider caught up with DeHond about his experience during the busy weekend.
“It was awesome,” DeHond said. “It was great to spend time with the guys and more time with the coaches than we usually get to on a game visit. It was so much fun, and I couldn’t be happier with who’s in our class and all the different personalities we have. It’s going to be awesome.”
The commits watched Clemson’s national championship parade on Saturday from the rooftop of a building on College Avenue, saw the celebration in Death Valley from up close on the field, attended the Clemson men’s basketball game against Virginia and sat in on the team’s awards banquet among other activities. Of course, the tight-knit commits also met with coaches and continued building relationships with each another.
DeHond said one of the highlights of his visit was suiting up in the uniform he’ll wear in the future.
“We were all fully suited up in our game gear, and that’s when it kind of hit me that this is for real and this is a few months away from being my reality,” DeHond said. “Two years ago if you told me I was going to be playing for Clemson this year, I would have laughed in your face. But it’s awesome.”
DeHond, the No. 8 prospect in New Jersey according to Rivals.com, was the second player to commit to Clemson’s 2017 class when he pledged on Aug. 17, 2015.
The 6-foot-7, 320-pounder was a first-team all-state performer as a senior this season, and he could help fill a need for the Tigers along the offensive line at the tackle position.
What did DeHond hear from head coach Dabo Swinney and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell during the visit?
“They just want me to keep working,” DeHond said. “I just want to do whatever I can to be ready when I get there June 25. They need tackles, and I want to contribute as early as possible and make the team better in any way that I can. That’s basically the main thing they told me to do was just keep getting ready.”
DeHond is proud to be a part of Clemson’s first signing class after the national championship, and wants to help continue the momentum and experience a national title himself one day.
“It’s awesome, but for us, we didn’t get to experience it, and obviously that’s something we want to experience,” DeHond said. “So, it’s going to be our driving force to want to bring more and more of those big trophies home.”
DeHond chose Clemson over 20 offers including finalists Alabama and North Carolina. With signing day nearing, it won’t be long before his recruiting process is over and the next stage of his life begins.
“It’s going to be nice to make it official,” DeHond said. “This is something that’s been part of my life for a year and a half almost, and to finally make it official, it’s going to be awesome.”
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