CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables offered Teradja Mitchell in January of his freshman year at Bayside High School.

Now, a sophomore at Bishop Sullivan Catholic, the four-star linebacker is scheduled to visit Clemson next month.

“I’m not going to camp. I’m going to go visit the school,” he said. “I believe it’s going to be sometime in June, when school lets out. I’m done with school the last week for May.”

Ranked by 247 as the No. 1 inside linebacker in the class of 2018, Mitchell (6-2, 225) has offers from all of the programs in the Mid-Atlantic, to go along with Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

Clemson, Alabama, Florida State, LSU and the instate schools are considered to be among his top options.

“I want to see how the coaches are, how their attitudes are toward me. Some coaches…lie, I just want to see about that,” he said of Clemson, “And see the how defense is, how the campus is, the athletic facilities.”

Venables continues to serve as Tigers’ primary recruiter.

“He’s been wanting me to get down there for a long time, so I decided to finally make that happen,” Mitchell said.

The interest is mutual.

“He’s very energetic. I love the way he coaches. He’s a very energetic coach, active. I don’t like a laid-back coach,” Mitchell said.

Clemson’s defensive reputation also sticks out.

“They’re animals,” he said. “They always produce great linebackers. It’s a great school to go to.”