Recruiting for the class of 2018 continues to heat up, but it’s never too early to take a peek at the crop of prospects for 2019.
Looking Ahead is a feature The Clemson Insider releases from time to time to take a look at where the Tigers stand with targets in the 2019 class.
In this article, we look at some of Clemson’s tight end prospects:
Keon Zipperer, Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland High):
Zipperer (pictured) holds Clemson’s lone offer to a 2019 tight end to date. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound pass-catcher impressed at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June before receiving an offer from the Tigers in August.
Oklahoma and South Carolina offered Zipperer last week, joining Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and others on his offer sheet.
Zipperer is looking to visit Clemson for a game. He visited Florida State for its game against Louisville last weekend and was also among FSU’s guests for its season opener against Alabama in Atlanta last month.
The four-star recruit is believed to favor Clemson and Florida among his current offers but isn’t publicly claiming any leaders and doesn’t intend to make his decision until his senior year. He is ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 tight end-H back and a top-100 overall prospect for 2019.
Ryland Goede, Kennesaw, Ga. (Kennesaw Mountain High):
Goede (6-7, 237) has an impressive list of offers that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He is a consensus four-star prospect, top-five tight end and top-100 overall prospect according to the major recruiting services.
Clemson has not yet offered Goede but continues to express interest. He visited Clemson for the South Carolina game last season before competing at the Swinney Camp over the summer.
Goede told us recently that Georgia, Auburn, Michigan and Ohio State are showing the most interest. He has attended games at Georgia, Michigan and Nebraska this season and plans to get to Auburn, Alabama and Florida.
Georgia is the perceived team to beat, but Goede isn’t naming any favorites right now. He plans to release a list of his top schools at the end of this season and make a decision before his senior season.
Kyle Bilodeau, Woodberry Forest, Va. (Woodberry Forest School):
Like Toney, Bilodeau (6-5, 238) has participated in the past two Swinney Camps and is being evaluated by the Tigers. He recently made his first game-day visit to Clemson for the Wake Forest game on Oct. 7.
Bilodeau has an offer from N.C. State under his belt. He also been to Duke and Vanderbilt this season. Schools such as Penn State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina are recruiting him as well.
As a sophomore last season, Bilodeau caught 32 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns.
Keshawn Toney, Williston, S.C. (Williston Elko High):
Toney’s performances at the Swinney Camp the past two summers have placed him firmly on Clemson’s radar. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has good hands and runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash.
Toney has visited South Carolina and Georgia State this season. Georgia State has offered, while Georgia Tech and N.C. State are showing interest along with South Carolina. He recently received an invite to the National Combine at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will take place from Jan. 4-6 in San Antonio.
Among other 2019 tight ends we’re tracking are Greenwood (S.C.) Emerald’s Luke Deal, Jefferson (Ga.)’s Garmon Randolph and Cartersville (Ga.)’s Jackson Lowe.
Above photo: Keon Zipperer at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June