Clemson recruiting roundup: Latest news and notes
By: Gavin Oliver January 16, 2018

It’s a busy time for Clemson on the recruiting trail.

The dead period ended last week, giving way to the contact period, so college coaches have been hitting the road to visit recruits. Schools also resumed hosting prospects for official visits last weekend and can do so the next three weekends before National Signing Day on Feb. 7.

The Clemson Insider rounds up the latest recruiting news and notes surrounding the Tigers:

** Clemson safeties coach Mickey Conn and defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall stopped by powerhouse Grayson (Ga.) High School on Tuesday morning to check in on recruits.

Grayson is home to a number of Clemson prospects, most notably 2019 five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe (pictured) and 2019 four-star defensive end Kevin Harris. Both Pappoe and Harris are slated to attend Clemson’s junior day this weekend.

Clemson currently stands as Georgia’s biggest competition for Pappoe (6-0, 207). Tennessee is trying to emerge as a contender in his recruitment with its new coaching staff. The Vols hosted Pappoe and several other Grayson standouts in Knoxville last weekend. Pappoe’s visit to Clemson this weekend will mark his first to the school since last June.

Clemson is also a top contender for Harris (6-5, 210). He received an offer from Clemson in the fall and attended a couple games in Death Valley last season.

** One prospect who has seen his stock soar in advance of National Signing Day is Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer four-star cornerback Taiyon Palmer, who de-committed from Duke in November. So far this month, he has picked up offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Louisville and Arkansas among others.

Palmer (5-11, 178) is set to use his third official visit on NC State this weekend. He went to Vanderbilt in December and Nebraska last weekend. Clemson and Notre Dame are a couple of the other schools vying to get one of his final official visits.

Notre Dame defensive backs coach Todd Lyght made an in-home visit with Palmer on Monday.

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** Another defensive back that Clemson wants to get on campus for an official visit is Cypress (Texas) Springs four-star safety Leon O’Neal.

O’Neal (6-1, 190) has a top four of Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The former Aggies commit has already taken official visits to A&M and Oklahoma, and those two teams are thought to be the favorites right now. Coaches from both Oklahoma and Texas A&M paid visits to O’Neal on Friday.

Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker went in-home with O’Neal on Monday.

https://twitter.com/WakeEmUp9/status/953098415122108417

** 2019 four-star defensive end Curtis Fann of Twin City (Ga.) Emanuel County Institute drew a visit from Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and linebackers coach Glenn Schumann on Tuesday.

Fann named Auburn, Clemson, Florida and South Carolina his top four schools in December.

** Clemson signee BT Potter arrived to Honolulu on Monday. The kicker from Rock Hill, S.C., will play in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 20 at Aloha Stadium in Oahu, Hawaii.