Friday recruiting roundup
By: Gavin Oliver February 24, 2017

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

White releases short list. The biggest recruiting news of the week involving Clemson came Monday when the nation’s No. 1 running back, five-star Zamir White, announced his top four schools on Twitter.

White listed Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and North Carolina in that order.

General perception pointed to Clemson as the school to beat for White before recent developments. White was expected to visit North Carolina last weekend before a last-minute change of plans resulted in a second visit to Georgia in three weeks. White, of course, elected to attend Georgia’s Junior Day on Jan. 28 over Clemson’s the same day. So, the perception has shifted to Georgia as the favorite right now.

There’s a long way to go, though. The consensus top-10 prospect in the 2018 class doesn’t plan to make a decision until June 27, his mother’s birthday. And that won’t signal the official end of his recruitment, with National Signing Day a long eight months later.

Clemson and North Carolina are both trying to get White on campus for their Junior Days on March 4. His status for those events is up in the air right now.

Clemson makes cut for Wilson. A day after White’s news, Hillsborough (N.C.) Orange 2018 four-star linebacker Payton Wilson also announced his top schools.

In alphabetical order, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech made the top seven.

Clemson is among the throng of schools that have offered Wilson of late. The nation’s No. 34 prospect and No. 2 outside linebacker according to 247Sports has added offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan State, Auburn, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State and Clemson since Jan. 27, respectively.

He is slated to visit Clemson for the Junior Day on March 4.

Some Junior Day visitors. Along with Wilson, here are some of the names we’ve confirmed as expected visitors for the Junior Day so far, which includes a highly touted crop of rising juniors:

Jovaughn Gwyn, Charlotte (N.C.) Harding, 2018 OG

Darnell Jeffries, Covington (Ga.) Newton, 2018 DT

B.T. Potter, Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe, 2018 Kicker

Devyn Ford, Stafford (Va.) North Stafford, 2019 RB

Keiondre Jones, Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway, 2019 OG

Jacob Lacey, Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren, 2019 DT

Owen Pappoe, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, 2019 LB

Pierce Quick, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville, 2019 OT

Kenyatta Watson, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson, 2019 Safety

Blake Corum, Laurel (Md.) St. Vincent Pallotti, 2020 RB

Coziah Izzard, Laurel (Md.) St. Vincent Pallotti, 2020 DE/LB

Michael Robertson, Hogansville (Ga.) Callway, 2020 WR

We’ll have a more extensive list and preview of the Junior Day closer to the date.

Notable visits this weekend. Some of the notable trips Clemson targets will make to other schools this weekend:

Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic 2018 five-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell and Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian four-star cornerback Kyler McMichael are visiting Alabama this weekend. Stafford (Va.) North Stafford four-star offensive tackle Nana Asiedu is visiting Penn State. Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett four-star defensive end Justin Mascoll and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent are visiting Florida State.