The Clemson secondary is set to be reconfigured yet again, only one season after replacing Mackenzie Alexander, Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green, who are all in the NFL.
Thanks to consistently strong recruiting, the Tigers have all of the necessary pieces to match or even exceed Cordrea Tankersley’s and Jadar Johnson’s production from last year now that they are both off to the NFL as well.
Clemson does not currently have a defensive back in their 2018 class, but that could change in the coming months. Verone McKinley III has the potential to fit the bill of the next top Clemson cornerback.
McKinley told The Clemson Insider that he keeps in contact with a couple of Clemson coaches on a consistent basis.
“I’ve talked to Coach [Mike] Reed and Coach [Brent] Venables,” he said. “Another visit and really adding another piece to the puzzle of the recruiting class. Coach Reed and Venables always ask about my family as well and how things are with them too.”
McKinley III said he does not know when he will come back to visit Clemson yet, but he wants to get back before his final decision date. He hasn’t planned a date for his decision yet but he told TCI it will most likely be in May.
The Hebron [Texas] product released his top nine schools back in February which contained Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Texas A&M and UCLA.
McKinley III said he is “very high on [Clemson] so we’ll see,” and he will consider and try and visit all of the schools one more time before committing.
The 5-foot-10 170-pound cornerback said that he likes everything about Clemson, and that should fare well for the Tigers come decision time.
“I like everything about them,” said McKinley III. “I feel it’s a unique place that has been doing great since 2010. I like what they’ve done with their players the past few years and how Coach [Dabo] Swinney preaches graduating his players.”
McKinley III said he can bring a lot to the Clemson football program as a player, and even compares himself to a recent Tiger grad.
“A lot of energy and I feel I can lockdown a whole side or a certain [wide receiver],” he said. “I feel like I can be like Mackensie Alexander for example. I’ll bring a football I.Q with instincts and help make everyone around me better including on the offensive side in practice.”