4-star target on third visit this month: ‘It was different’
By: Gavin Oliver March 16, 2017

Clemson got fast-rising defensive tackle Darnell Jefferies on campus again Wednesday for a third visit in less than two weeks. This time, his parents accompanied him.

The four-star talent from Covington (Ga.) Newton was offered by the Tigers on March 4 while attending junior day, and also spent last Saturday at Clemson with a group of prospects from Georgia that he trains with.

“It was great. We had a blast,” Jefferies said of Wednesday’s visit in an interview with The Clemson Insider. “It was different because today it was personal. I got a lot of questions answered and was able to see the school as a whole. I also got to see the scrimmage today and it was really good.”

“I like the intensity and the structure of the scrimmage,” he said. “The D-line was ferocious.”

Jefferies has seen his stock rise rapidly in recent weeks as he’s added offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina and West Virginia since the end of January. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder has other offers from Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

He has quickly risen on Clemson’s recruiting board, as well, and the coaches he spoke with made him feel like a priority.

“They were all very nice. They told me that they really wanted me to be a Tiger. Period!” Jefferies said.

Jefferies is starting to build a good relationship with the staff and some of the players he has met.

“That’s very important to me. Relationship is everything,” he said. “It can be a huge factor on whether you succeed or fail. I am very pleased with the way my relationships with both players and coaches are developing.”

Jefferies is visiting Georgia today and said he will travel to South Carolina on Saturday.

He mentioned that Clemson answered his questions. So, what did he learn?

“That Clemson is a first-class university,” Jefferies said. “That it’s a special place with special people. On and off the field.”