Wednesday 01/07/2015
CLEMSON, S.C. – Head Coach Dabo Swinney welcomed 15 new Tigers to the football program this week. All 15 have begun classes and are eligible for the 2015 season.
SHADELL BELLWR • 6-3 • 190 • Fr. • HSDecatur, Ga.Columbia HSPlayed in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … No. 187 in the nation overall by Rivals.com in December … No. 45 receiver in the nation and No. 42 player in Georgia by ESPN … No. 46 receiver in the nation and No. 42 player in Georgia by Rivals.com … named the team’s top defensive player as an outside linebacker with 32 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and a recovered fumble as a senior … had 37 receptions for 463 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior … coached by David Edwards … recruited by Marion Hobby … committed Nov. 23, 2013 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in parks, recreation & tourism management … born May 1, 1997.
KELLY BRYANTQB • 6-4 • 205 • Fr. • HSPiedmont, S.C.Wren HSFinalist for Mr. Football in South Carolina as a senior … Greenville County Player-of-the-Year as a senior … Shrine Bowl selection … South Carolina Football Coaches Associate Player-of-the-Year as a senior … all-state, all-region selection as a senior … led Wren High School to 11 wins and the region title as a senior … was 231-368 passing for 3,579 yards and 41 touchdowns along with 720 yards and 14 touchdowns on 128 carries as a senior … had 2,800 passing yards and 28 touchdowns against just interceptions along with 1,200 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior … No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in nation by Rivals.com … No. 11 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by ESPN … No. 4 player in South Carolina by Rivals.com entering his senior year … No. 3 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com … coached by Jeff Tate … recruited by Chad Morris … committed April 17, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … his cousin, Martavis Bryant, was a wide receiver at Clemson (2011-13) and plays with the Pittsburgh Steelers … majoring in elementary education … born Sept. 25, 1996.
KALEB CHALMERSDB • 6-0 • 180 • Fr. • HSGreenwood, S.C.Greenwood HSShrine Bowl selection … led Greenwood High School to the state playoffs as a senior … No. 166 player in the nation by 247Sports.com entering his senior season … No. 27 cornerback in the nation by ESPN … No. 11 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com … had 80 tackles, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups as a junior … had 45 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore … coached by Dan Pippin … recruited by Mike Reed … committed April 12, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in pre-business … born May 19, 1997.
J.D. DAVISLB • 6-2 • 220 • Fr. • HSClemson, S.C.Daniel HSOriginally signed with Clemson in 2014 … starting linebacker on the Daniel High School team that had a 14-1 record and played in the state championship game as a senior; one of the reasons Daniel High School held 10 teams to 10 points or less and posted five shutouts … had 87 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown as a senior … coached by Randy Robinson … recruited by Chad Morris … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … brother of Judah Davis; he became part of the first twin-brother combination at Clemson since Andy and Peter Ford signed in February 1993 … son of Jeff Davis, a former Clemson All-America linebacker, 1981 National Championship team captain and College Football Hall of Famer … majoring in pre-business … born June 17, 1996.
JUDAH DAVISLB • 6-2 • 220 • Fr. • HSClemson, S.C.Daniel HSOriginally signed with Clemson in 2014 … starting linebacker on the Daniel High School team that had a 14-1 record and played in the state championship game as a senior; one of the reasons Daniel High School held 10 teams to 10 points or less and posted five shutouts … had 86 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, nine quarterback pressures and a blocked punt as a senior … coached by Randy Robinson at Daniel High School … recruited by Chad Morris … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … brother of J.D. Davis; he became part of the first twin-brother combination at Clemson since Andy and Peter Ford signed in February 1993 … son of Jeff Davis, a former Clemson All-America linebacker, 1981 National Championship team captain and College Football Hall of Famer … majoring in pre-business … born June 17, 1996.
JAKE FRUHMORGENOL • 6-5 • 285 • Fr. • HSTampa, Fla.Plant HSPlayed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl; played offensive tackle in high school, but played center and offensive guard in the game … No. 73 player and No. 15 offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.com … No. 89 player and No. 8 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 18 player in Florida by Rivals.com … No 93 player and No. 7 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 18 player in Florida by ESPN … led his team to an 11-2-1 record as a junior … coached by Robert Weiner … recruited by Tony Elliott … committed April 10, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … his father, John, played football at Alabama and with the Miami Dolphins … major is undeclared … born Sept. 24, 1996.
ZACH GIELLAOL • 6-5 • 275 • Fr. • HSAugusta, Ga.Augusta Christian SchoolsPlayed in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … No. 31 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN entering his senior season … No. 44 player in Georgia by Rivals.com … played baseball, basketball and track … coached by Keith Walton … recruited by Chad Morris … committed May 14, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in health science … born Oct. 8, 1996.
NOAH GREENOL • 6-5 • 275 • Fr. • HSBoiling Springs, S.C.Boiling Springs HSPlayed in the Shrine Bowl and the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … top-200 prospect in the nation and No. 3 player in South Carolina by ESPN … No. 7 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com … No. 8 player in South Carolina by Rivals.com … participated in The Opening … coached by Rick Tate … recruited by Jeff Scott … committed Sept. 28, 2013 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in pre-business … born Jan. 31, 1997.
ALBERT HUGGINSDL • 6-3 • 280 • Fr. • HSOrangeburg, S.C.Orangeburg-Wilkinson HSMarked the first time Clemson signed the consensus top player in South Carolina since 2008 (Da’Quan Bowers) … No. 60 player and No. 12 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com … No. 76 player and No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in South Carolina by Rivals.com … No. 104 player in the nation by Scout.com … No. 168 player in the nation and No. 2 player in South Carolina by ESPN … played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … had 208 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in his career … had 73 tackles, 10 sacks and three caused fumbles as a senior … had 65 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a junior … had 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore … coached by Tommy Brown … recruited by Marion Hobby … committed Dec. 12, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in construction science & management … born June 27, 1997.
MITCH HYATTOL • 6-6 • 270 • Fr. • HSSuwanee, Ga.North Gwinnett HSPlayed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … first-team All-American by MaxPreps.com and USA Today as a senior … first-team All-American by MaxPreps.com as a junior … No. 8 player and No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com … No. 13 player and No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.com … No. 16 player and No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 2 player in Georgia by ESPN … No. 16 player and No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 3 player in Georgia by Rivals.com … led his team to a 13-2 record and the state championship game as a junior … participated in The Opening … coached by Bob Sphire … recruited by Tony Elliott … committed Feb. 5, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … his uncle, Dan Benish, was an All-ACC defensive tackle and a starter on Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team … majoring in general engineering … born Feb. 6, 1997.
TUCKER ISRAELQB • 5-11 • 190 • Fr. • HSOrlando, Fla.Lake Nona HSSecond-team All-American by MaxPreps.com as a senior … set six state passing records … broke Tim Tebow’s state record for passing touchdowns in a season (56), 10 more than Tebow had … set the state record for career passing touchdowns (162) … was 1008-1524 passing for 15,034 yards in his career; averaged 5.1 passing touchdowns and 349 yards per game in his 43-game career … had 1,314 yards and 18 touchdowns on 222 carries in his career … only player in state history with 600 passing yards in consecutive games … No. 12 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by ESPN … was 317-470 passing for 4,446 yards and 56 touchdowns as a senior … had 3,979 passing yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior … had 3,685 passing yards and 36 touchdowns as a sophomore … coached by Anthony Paradiso … recruited by Chad Morris … committed Feb. 4, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in pre-business … born Aug. 11, 1996.
STERLING JOHNSONDL • 6-5 • 275 • Fr. • HSClayton, N.C.Cleveland HSLed Cleveland High School to a 10-3 record as a senior … No. 109 player and No. 14 defensive end in the nation and No. 4 player in North Carolina by ESPN … played in the Under Armour All-America Game … had 78 tackles and 44 were tackles for loss as a junior … had 7.5 sacks and two blocked punts in a state playoff game … coached by Scott Riley … recruited by Mike Reed … committed May 14, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in sports communication … born Aug. 20, 1997.
CHAD SMITHLB • 6-3 • 215 • Fr. • HSSterling, Va.Dominion HSPlayed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … No. 56 player and No. 6 linebacker in the nation and No. 2 player in Virginia by Rivals.com … No. 179 player and No. 14 linebacker in the nation and No. 9 player in Virginia by 247Sports.com … top-300 player and No. 19 linebacker in the nation and No. 10 player in Virginia by ESPN … participated in The Opening, where he was rated as the No. 3 athlete after competition with the other 161 players in attendance … played linebacker, safety, tight end and wide receiver … had 90 tackles and 15 tackles for loss as a senior … had 118 yards on 19 carries, 24 receptions for 44 yards and seven touchdowns and made two field goals as a senior … had 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, five interceptions and three blocked field goals as a junior … had 757 yards and 12 touchdowns on 113 carries as a junior … two-time all-state, all-region and all-conference selection … coached by Paul Troth … recruited by Brent Venables … committed April 10, 2014 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in sports communication … born April 16, 1996.
VAN SMITHRB • 6-2 • 170 • Fr. • HSCharlotte, N.C.William Amos Hough HSLed William Amos Hough High School to a 10-4 record as a senior … No. 9 player in North Carolina by MaxPreps.com … had 444 yards and 13 touchdowns on 66 carries as a senior … had two kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a 95-yarder, as a senior; averaged 36.3 yards per kickoff return on 10 returns … had 74 tackles and six interceptions as a senior … played for West Mecklenburg High School from his sophomore to junior seasons … All-Mecklenburg County selection as a junior when he played on both sides of the ball … had 1,114 yards and 12 touchdowns on 160 carries and added four interceptions as a junior … coached by Miles Aldridge, a former Clemson assistant coach … recruited by Danny Pearman … committed Aug. 31, 2013 … signed a financial-aid agreement on Aug. 1, 2014 … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in sports communication … born Aug. 14, 1996.
JALEN WILLIAMSLB • 6-0 • 215 • Fr. • HSBlythewood, S.C.Blythewood HSOriginally signed with Clemson in 2014 … No. 29 player in South Carolina by ESPN … No. 34 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com … MVP of the victorious North team in the North-South All-Star game; he had six tackles and a recovered fumble … had 186 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, one interception, six caused fumbles and six recovered fumbles in his career … had 101 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one interception, six recovered fumbles and four caused fumbles as a senior … had 115 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior … had 21 tackles and one sack as a sophomore … played basketball … coached by Dan Morgan … recruited by Brent Venables … enrolled Jan. 7, 2015 … majoring in parks, recreation & tourism management … born June 4, 1996.
November 30, 2024
