Dodd is Eighth Mid-Year Enrollee for Clemson Program

Jan. 18, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – Kevin Dodd, a defensive tackle from Greer, SC, is the eighth and final mid-year enrollee for the Clemson program this spring. He is enrolled at Clemson, attended classes on Wednesday, and will participate in spring practice. He played for Hargrave Military last year after his high school career at Riverside High. The eight mid-year enrollees is a record for the Clemson program.

Below are short bios on the eight new student-athletes who are now a part of the Clemson football program.

Kevin Dodd…6-5…275…Defensive Tackle…Greer, SC Comes to Clemson after spending 2011 season at Hargrave Military…had outstanding high school career in two sports at Riverside High in Greer…ranked as 14th best player in South Carolina by Rivals.com…rated as 27th best player in South Carolina by SuperPrep…played in the North-South High School All-Star game in Myrtle Beach…had outstanding performance in that contest as he had five tackles, two of which were sacks, caused a fumble and recorded a fumble…named all-region for the region 2-4A level and also an all-county selection for Greenville County…finished the year with 78 tackles, 45 assists, 22 tackles for loss, including nine sacks, had three caused fumbles, one recovered fumble and four passes broken up…also an outstanding athlete in track, he joined that team in the spring of 2010… the Greenville County Champion in the shot put, runner-up in the discus and named the Greenville County Field Athlete of the Year…also the region champion in both the shot and discus and was a 3A state qualifier in the shot put…Riverside Field Athlete of the Year and was voted as a 2011 team captain…set school records in the shot (49′ 1″) and the discus (128′ 6.5″)…ran track at Riverside for Eric Cummings…played football for Steve Eoute at Riverside High School in Greer…recruited by Jeff Scott…born July 14, 1992.

Isaiah Battle…6-7…265…Offensive Tackle…St. George, VA Ranked as the nation’s No. 5 prep school prospect and a four-star recruit by Rivals…comes to Clemson from Fork Union Military…attended Blue Ridge High School in Virginia, he was #59 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN…two-time first-team all-state selection at Blue Ridge High…originally from Brooklyn, NY…had 67 tackles and seven sacks as a senior…had 12 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a junior…first-team All-Virginia Independent Conference as a senior…coached by Del Smith at Blue Ridge…recruited as a college football player and basketball player…recruited to Clemson by Danny Pearman.

Travis Blanks…6-1…195…Defensive Back…Tallahassee, FL Ranked as number-12 overall player and the number-two safety in the nation by ESPN.com, he is a four-star player by that service…Tom Lemming lists Blanks as the #19 overall player in the nation…ranked as number-two cornerback and #33 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com, which also lists Blanks as a four-star player…played in the US Army All-America game…ranked as #2 player in Florida by ESPN…ranked as #6 safety in the nation by Scout.com…his North Florida Christian team won the state championship in Florida…ranked as number-one player among the Super 60 in the Orlando area by the Orlando Sentinel…honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated for 2011 season, when he missed five games due to a pulled hamstring…as a junior had 104 tackles, four interceptions, 35 receptions and eight reception touchdowns…recruited to Clemson by Jeff Scott.

Zac Brooks…6-2…180…All-Purpose…Jonesboro, AR Ranked as #129 player in the nation by Tom Lemming…ranked as #15 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com, #35 as a wide receiver by ESPN…#42 wide receiver in nation by Scout.com…a four-star prospect…played at Jonesboro High in Arkansas where he was a running back and wide receiver over his career…had injury plagued senior year, but still had 650 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, nine rushing and five receiving…had 28 receptions as a senior…as a junior had 180 carries for 1358 yards and 15 touchdowns…also had 33 receptions for 211 yards…as a sophomore had 38 receptions for 769 yards and five scores…ranked as number-three player in Arkansas by EPSN…played his high school football for Randy Coleman…recruited to Clemson by Chad Morris.

Patrick DeStefano…6-4…275…Offensive Line…Roebuck, SC Ranked as number-59 player in the nation according to ESPN…a four star signee by ESPN as well…ranked as a top 100 player nationally by Tom Lemming, he is rated as number-66 player in the nation…played in the Shrine Bowl for South Carolina team…played in the Under Armour All-America game along with classmate Jay Guillermo…named South Carolina Coaches Association Lineman of the Year…Big 16 Upper State Lineman of the Year as well…first-team All-Area each of the last two years from an academic standpoint…ranked as #12 offensive tackle in nation by ESPN, which also ranks him as a four-star player…Scout.com lists him as #16 offensive guard in the nation…graded 82 percent from his coaches as a senior…played at Dorman High School…his dad played at Duke and in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints…high school teammate of current Clemson receivers Adam Humphries and Charone Peake…recruited to Clemson by Jeff Scott.

Jay Guillermo…6-2…287…Center…Maryville, TN Ranked as the number-89 player in the nation by ESPN.com…first-team All-American by ESPN and the top player in the state of Tennessee…number-one center in the nation by ESPN, sixth best by Rivals.com…also first-team High School All-American by Sports Illustrated…helped Maryville High to state 6A championship each of the last two years…a Max Prep first-team All-American…named Tennessee Mr. Football Lineman of the Year…played in the Under Armour All-America game with Clemson classmate Patrick DeStefano…county player of the year regardless of position…Maryville was 15-0 in 2011 and ranked as the 11th best team in the nation by Max Preps…first commitment to Clemson’s class of 2012…recruited to Clemson by Dan Brooks.

Oliver Jones…6-6…320…Offensive Line…Ninety-Six, SC Ranked as number-14 offensive guard or center in the nation by MaxPreps…a consensus three-star prospect, he is ranked as nation’s #58 tackle by Scout.com, #65 by ESPN and #66 by Rivals.com…ranked among top 15 players in South Carolina by Rivals.com and among the top 20 in the state by ESPN.com…comes to Clemson from Ninety-Six High School in Ninety-Six, SC, the same school that produced former Clemson All-ACC running back Ronald Williams (1990-92)…Williams’ son, DeShawn Williams, is now a defensive lineman on the Clemson team…coached at Ninety-Six High School by Chris Liner…recruited to Clemson by Charlie Harbison.

Bradley Pinion…6-5…220…Punter…Concord, NC Averaged 46.1 yards a punt in 2011…first-team High School All-American by ESPN…played in the US Army All-America game in San Antonio…second-team USA Today All-American this past season, the first Clemson kicker signee to make a USA Today All-America team since Chris Gardocki in 1988…ranked as number-three overall kicker in the nation by ESPN, number-four by Rivals and number-six by Scout.com…played for North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl…as a junior, averaged 40 yards a punt and had 17 punts inside the 20…had 37 touchbacks in 50 kickoffs as a junior…played at North Cabarrus High School…recruited to Clemson by Danny Pearman.