By Hale McGranahan.

Clemson and North Carolina battle Saturday night in Death Valley.  Over the years the two ACC teams have teams have faced off on the recruiting trail frequently.

UNC OFFENSE

Clemson was one of several big-time programs to pursue Bentley Spain out of Charlotte’s Providence High School. The Tigers occupied a spot in his lead group and had him on campus as an unofficial visitor. In July of 2013, just before the start of his senior season, Spain committed to UNC. He’s now listed as the second-team left tackle.

R.J. Prince, the No. 3 right tackle on the UNC depth chart, was the first commitment to Clemson’s 2013 class, but that pledge lasted just a few months. The Albermarle product popped for the Tar Heels a couple of weeks after he opened his recruitment back up in February of 2012.

Clemson had enough interest in running back T.J. Logan that the Tiger coaches tendered an offer, but he never visited. A 2013 graduate, the Northern Guilford High School (Greensboro), Logan committed to UNC in July before his senior season.

In fact, Clemson offered the other three tailbacks on the UNC depth chart: Romar Morris, Elijah Hood and Khris Francis.

Morris never expressed much interest in Clemson. Hood, a one-time Notre Dame commitment, looked at the Tigers and visited for the Dabo Swinney Football Camp; but there was a significant stretch when contact between the two parties fell off. Nonetheless, it was always going to be Notre Dame or UNC for Hood. By the time Clemson offered Francis, he and his high school teammate, Korrin Wiggins, were committed to UNC.

Starting wide receiver Quinshad Davis, who graduated from Gaffney in 2012, would haved jumped all over an offer to play at Clemson. He opted to pick UNC over Wake Forest and Tennessee.

Fellow starting wide receiver Bug Howard received an offer from Clemson when he was coming out of Wilcox County High School (Georgia) as a 2013 prospect. He jumped on the Tar Heels’ offer in September of 2012.

UNC DEFENSE

Clemson was a finalist for Ethan Farmer when he was coming out of South Columbus High School in Tabor City, North Carolina. Recruited as a jumbo athlete (tight end or defensive tackle), Farmer announced that he was signing with the Tar Heels on the first Wednesday of February 2010. Listed as a starting defenisve tackle, Farmer is one of three senior starters in the UNC front seven.

A four-star prospect out of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Travis Hughes listed Clemson in his final four, which also included Virginia Tech and Maryland. Though Clemson was a finalist, Hughes picked UNC over Virginia Tech in December of 2010. He’s entering his final season as the starting weak-side linebacker for the Tar Heels.

Clemson was one of several schools to offer Allen Artis, a three-star safety from Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. Artis visited Clemson in March of 2013. Three months later, he committed to sign with UNC’s 2014 class. He’s now third on the free safety depth chart.

Nearly one month after Des Lawrence picked up an offer from Clemson he committed to UNC. Clemson offered Lawrence when he was on campus for a visit in March of 2012. The Charlotte Christian three-star had several ACC offers, to go along with South Carolina and Notre Dame. He’s now a starting cornerback for the Tar Heels.

CLEMSON

UNC offered several Clemson wide receivers, including Charone Peake and Germone Hopper, but both leaned heavily towards the Tigers. Among the players on Clemson’s offensive depth chart, they’re the only two to receive heavy interest from the Tar Heels.

Defensive tackle Josh Watson picked up a UNC offer when he was at Hargrave Military Academy as a post-graduate prospect. Watson planned to take an official visit to Chapel Hill, but that never transpired. Just a few days after wrapping up his Clemson official, Watson committed to the Tigers’ 2010 class.

Wiggins, who was a longtime commitment to UNC, flipped to Clemson on signing day in 2013. Ohio State also received consideration. Now, he’s the starting nickel back for the Tigers.

Stephone Anthony, a five-star linebacker in 2011, listed UNC in his lead group, but he wound up committing to Clemson over Florida and Virginia Tech.

UNC also offered Clemson safety Jadar Johnson, but Clemson was the clear-cut favorite once the Tigers came through with their offer.